My Papa's Waltz By Roethke

Poetry is made to express the feelings, thoughts, and emotions of the poet. The reader can interpret the poem however they see fit. Critics are undecided about the theme of Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz." Some people believe that the poem is one of a happy exchange between a father and son. The more convincing interpretation is that it has a hidden message of parental abuse. Careful analysis of the keywords and each individual stanza back up this theory of child abuse by a violent and drunken father.

“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke sparks differing opinions within the minds of many. Roethke was influenced greatly by his experiences as a young boy. For instance, his uncle and father both died when he was the age of fourteen. “My Papa’s Waltz” is written in remembrance of his father after this dreadful occurrence. The author’s use of imagery brings light to the his adoration for his father. Notably, his way of stringing together ideas reinforces the fond memories they shared. Roethke’s captivating choice of words supports his purpose to make known the love he has for this man. While the subject of “My Papa’s Waltz” has spurred passionate academic debate from professors, scholars, and students alike, the imagery, syntax, and diction of the poem clearly support the interpretation that Theodore Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” to bring attention to the loving relationship he had with his father.

In the poem My Papa’s Waltz by Theodore Roethke, he looks back in his memory as a child and explains the love he has for his father despite all the flaws his father holds. Roethke describes his emotions through this poem by using diction, imagery, and the use of tone.

Due to Theodore Roethke’s use of imagery, syntax, and diction, “My Papa’s Waltz” continues to spur passionate academic debate from professors, scholars, and students alike. Roethke uses these elements to allow the reader to recognize that he is reminiscing the intricate relationship he and his father shared. Although it is not essential, one could put the historical context into consideration. Evidently, there will always be individuals that see only abuse or a fond memory; however, we will never clearly know what his intention was in regards to the purpose of the poem. As a result, one must come to a realization based on the author’s use of diction, syntax, and imagery throughout the poem broken-down line by line; in order to fully

The controversial poem, “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke has spurred passionate academic debate from professors, scholars, and students alike; the imagery, syntax, and diction of the poem clearly support the interpretation that Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” to reminisce on a bittersweet memory with his father. His unclear commemoration has sparked a divide on what the true purpose of the poem is. Some may argue the poem’s purpose is to shine light on the subject of abuse, whereas others believe the father and son were sharing a moment while “roughly playing.” However, the more one examines this piece of literature, it becomes undeniable that the poem portrays a scene of a toxic father-son relationship. Although there are a

When I first read My Papa’s Waltz poem I had come up with the idea of a young child that was scared and he was also being repeatedly beaten by his alcoholic father. However, when I read it again and I took my time to look up words I did not understand and paid attention in detailed I viewed it a different way. When I started reading an “Article Journal”

In “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, we can interpret many themes, however the one theme that seems apparent is the meaning of hope and admiration. Often as a child, we adore our loved ones, no matter what situation we are in. As humans, we tend to make excuses for the ones we love most. In this poem, a man looks back on his childhood and explains his relationship with his father as a dance, as if he didn’t quite understand their connection. By analyzing this poem’s metaphors, language and imagery, it is evident that this small boy is going through an abusive situation, but we can comprehend that no matter what conflict people go through, they can still have veneration and a sense of hope.

The poem "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke is a moving representation of childhood spent in a working middle class family. The speaker of this poem is a man recalling his childhood, his father and his mother through the means of a waltz. The following essay will present a detailed analysis of the dramatic situation and speaker through the explanations of the various poetic tools used in this poem such as similes, choice of words and style.

To begin, American poet, Theodore Roethke in his open to question poem, “My Papa’s Waltz” illustrates his childhood memories with his father by using the “waltz” rhythmic movements in his poem. There have been professional debates between professors about what the poem is truly about, many believe that the author talking about his abusive and alcoholic father; others strongly disagree and believe it is about a father and his son having fun and making a mess around the house, leading the child to get hurt. The poem is about an adolescent boy and his father making memories together and making a mess in his mother’s kitchen which from the looks of her “countenance” is upset. Roethke uses the expression “waltz” because the dance is in a triple time rhythm, and Roethke uses an “AABBCC” rhyme scheme and the rhyme scheme emphasizes a “childish” but “unpleasant” vibe with the rhyme scheme and negative diction. While the subject of the poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke has spurred passionate academic debate from professors, scholars, and students alike, the imagery, syntax, and diction of the poem clearly support the interpretation that Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” to illustrate and reminisce his fond memories with his “papa” and his adolescent self making a mess around the house and the kitchen and leading his mother to be upset through a “dance.”

    While the subject of “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke has spurred passionate academic debate from professors, scholars, and students alike, the imagery, context, and diction of the poem clearly support the interpretation that Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” to reminisce on a fond memory of his father “waltzing” with him when he was a child.  Whether this memory was a fond one or one of an abusive relationship is up in the air. There are multitudes of different speculations as to what this poem could possibly mean; they range from double meanings to sexual undertones. One popular interpretation among many readers is the belief that “My Papa’s Waltz” was a poem about the abuse from father to son. In reality, the meaning is simply a dance.

A waltz is a beautiful dance done between two partners in 3-4ths time; a magical dance done rhythmically around a ballroom. Cinderella and her prince did it; Belle and the Beast did it. Now we see that Theodore Roethke and his father have done it. While the subject of “My Papa’s Waltz” has spurred passionate academic debates from professors, scholars, and students alike, the imagery, syntax, and diction of the poem clearly supports the interpretation that Theodore Roethke wrote “My Papa’s Waltz” as a reflection on the short childhood memories he had with his father.

My interpretation of the poem, My Papa's Waltz is by Theodore Roethke, is about a childhood memory written later in his lifetime. Theodore Roethke's dad was an alcoholic. Theodore Roethke went through a period where he was miserable and mentally unsteady. Some people who studied, “My Papa's Waltz”, conclude that it is about an abusive father that is drunk and cannot control himself. However, I strongly believe that he was writing this to remember about a good childhood memory from when he was younger. Theodore Roethke used his imagination to re-create a childhood memory with his father, but also begins to strive to comprehend the meaning of the relationship between him and his father. Some people who have read this poem may feel it’s a warm memory of happy play, but for others who are familiar with Roethke’s work very dark and unhappy.

The poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke presents a memory from a young boy waltzing with his father. The waltz is a metaphor that represents the relationship the boy has with his father. Although the poem may seem like a happy and sweet story of a father and son dancing in the kitchen there are also some darker underlying tones. The speaker, who is the young boy, is directing theses words towards his father, but does not actually express them directly to the father, instead the speaker is just reflecting upon them in his head.

Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz" is a gentle poem, made so by its affectionate and simple tone, its innocence, its light-heartedness, and its humor. While other readers, like John Ciardi, have found it to be a "poem of terror" (Fong 80), when one considers the original drafts, as John J. McKenna does, one sees a much less forbidding melodrama and a much more down-to-earth representation of home-life. This paper will show how Roethke's "Waltz" uses language, tone, and rhyme to convey, with childlike sensibility, a happy image of an energetic dance with one's father.

In discussions of “My Papa’s Waltz,” one controversial issue has been that it is about a contumelious relationship between Roethke and his drunk father. On the one hand, some readers argue that it is about Roethke and his father dancing. On the other hand, many readers contend that it is about rape. Others even maintain it is just Roethke walking his intoxicated father home. However, after deconstructing the poem, it becomes increasingly undeniably clear that it is about Roethke and his father “waltzing.” The subject of “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke has spurred passionate academic debate from professors, scholars, and students alike, the imagery, and syntax. This clearly supports the interpretation that Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” to illustrate a playful but rough memory that Roethke had as a child “waltzing” with his father.