"My Papa 's Waltz," by Theodore Roethke, and "Those Winter Sundays," by Robert Hayden, are two of the most famous American poems dealing with the theme of fatherhood. Each of them detail the narrator’s own experience with their fathers and some things are the same about them and some are different. That is what makes poetry unique. There are millions of poems out there so some may appear to be the same upfront, but they always have a factor that separates them from the rest. Both of these poems…

When Theodore Roethke was a young boy, he lived on a farm full of greenhouses. His imagination soared as he got to explore and play in each glass house that was filled with different species of flowers and plants. Having so much room to play sounds like a dream for most children, but Roethke had something more to deal with it. From his poem, “My Papa’s Waltz.” and many of his other works, Roethke has mixed emotions flowing through each one. With “My Papa’s Waltz,” there is a sense of alcohol abuse…

“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke is an intriguing poem because of its ambiguity. One could see this as a poem about a child having a playful dance with his dad before bedtime but I see it as a poem about a child being abused by his father because he is an alcoholic. A dance is supposed to symbolize an expression of joyful spirituality and love especially the waltz. Specifically, the title may give the impression that this dance between father and son is a smooth romantic dance but some words…

The poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke tells the story of a moment between a father and a son. The father smells like he has had a little too much to drink, and he is dancing around in the kitchen with his son. The dance doesn’t seem to be as much fun for the son, because he is continually scraping his ear against his dad’s belt buckle. Similarly, the poem “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden tells the story of a particular moment between a father and son. The son tells the story of his…

physically and emotionally scar him, and those scars can last for a lifetime. In the poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, the speaker describes the abuse that his father dealt to him under the guise of a dance. Although this abuse is hidden to some readers on the first read through, there are a few instances in the poem that are typical signs of abuse. The evidences of abuse in the poem “My Papa’s Waltz” that are typical to child abuse are the alcoholism of the father, the striking of the child…

In the analysis of Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz,” and Robert Hayden’s “Those Winter Sundays,” both modernistic and highly respected poets similarly write with a sense of reminiscence of childhood experiences. Similarly, both poems are about a memory as a boy looking back at a specific time in their lives and the love they have for their respected fathers. A similar implication is expressed in the way of their lives not being perfect, but still remaining a humble family. This is shown within…

different poems from two different authors. The first poem we will venture into is “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, the other is “The Victims” by Sharon Olds. Each describe a father figure and the relationship between the narrator and his father which is in turmoil. We’ll explore in some lengthy detail about the archetype of a bad father and the narrator’s take on them. Starting with “My Papa Waltz” by Theodore Roethke it brings to mind at first glance from the title something innocent and maybe…

magazine, most families have underlying problems that take place behind the scenes. It is undeniable that putting two works into conversation with each other can have several advantages. For example, in the poems “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, and Lucille Clifton’s “forgiving my father” they both portray their childhood memories that aren 't so picture perfect. While these poems highlight the wrongdoings of their father’s, in the end they both end up forgiving their fathers despite their lack…

“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, and “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden are the poems that talk about the relation between son and father. Both speakers in the poem are grown men and reflect memories of the day they spend with their father when they were in childhood. About the poem “My Papa’s Waltz,” Baird states that “Theodore Roethke imaginatively re-creates a childhood encounter with his father, but also begins to attempt to understand the meaning of the relationship between them”(…

With My Father When introduced to “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, there is a sense of nostalgia; like watching an old black and white movie. Contradictory to the title however, the poem depicts a perplexing scene of a father drunkenly dancing his son up to bed. There is a bit of controversy about this poem over whether this is about a childhood memory of a son’s cherished moment with his father, or if it is about a violent, dysfunctional family situation. In fact it is both. Theodore Roethke…