Theodore Roethke Influences

The 19th century American poet, Edgar Allan Poe, had been plagued by grief from an early age. He was an amazing poet and author who just happened to have a darker story. Many who have studied this prestigious man feel that his works, though magnificent, were extremely dark. Some believe it was nothing more then a fancy for him to spin such gruesome tales. Others feel his work was manipulated by the misfortune of his past. These people have actually found evidence that agrees with this statement. The works of Edgar Allan Poe were inspired by the history and life style of the author. The evidence is evident, when people look back and examine the author, his life, and his writings closely.

Theodore Roethke was born in Saginaw, Michigan on May 25, 1908 to Otto Roethke and Helen Huebner. Along with uncle, his mother and father owned a local greenhouse, where Roethke spent a lot of his childhood days working and playing. He referred to the greenhouse as “my symbol for the whole of life, a womb, a heaven-on-earth” ( ). The greenhouse played a huge role in his poetry. Roethke implies that only after death of the self can people come to realize the true purpose of life, love. Roethke always had stored in the back of his mind “the idea that personal selves were not the focus of time on earth”( ). Therefore, people must experience the death of their selves before they can truly live.

“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.

Edgar Allan Poe is a writer who uses many types of writing techniques in his short stories and poems. As a child, his parents died when he was three years old, and once he grew up, he attended two colleges and was kicked out of both. He lost his editing job due to his heavy drinking. These unlikely events show why he writes the way he does today but the one event that caused his darkness to show was when his wife died. Poe is a literary genius because of his ability to use many different literary styles. Edgar Allan Poe creates an atmosphere of fear in “The Cask of Amontillado” through the setting, imagery, and characterization.

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

An aspiring poet of the twentieth century, Theodore Roethke set the bar for his peers in poetry. Roethke led a short yet successful life, with his great poem “My Papa's Waltz” being a sample of his meaningful works. Roethke was the son of German immigrants and was born on May twenty fifth, 1908 in Saginaw Michigan(“My Papa’s Waltz”). During Theodore Roethke’s childhood, his family owned some of the biggest greenhouses in the state(Theodore Roethke).Theodore Roethke’s father, Otto, was a person who enjoyed hobbies that differed much from Theodores hobbies(My Papa’s Waltz-Themes and meanings). Otto enjoyed much more “manly” hobbies. Like any father, Otto wanted his son to share the same hobbies as himself, but early on in Theodore’s life it was obvious that Theodore would not follow his Father(My Papa’s Waltz-Themes and meanings). Otto died before Theodore got to really know his father, and

Theodore Roethke’s poem, “My Papa’s Waltz” has spurred passionate academic debates among professors, scholars, and students; the imagery, context, and diction of the poem clearly supports the interpretation that Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” reflecting on his relationship with his father. A relationship in which, notably, causes harm to the author. However, through all the nights Roethke spent in pain and in horror, his love for his father still exists. While many people believe that the author tells a lovely story of a fond memory with his father, it is not possible that the use of negative imagery and negative diction does not play a role in the story told. “My Papa’s Waltz” tells the story of a “small boy” who is abused by his

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 as Roethke’s father is drunkenly “waltzing” with his young self. This leads into wondering if Roethke was affected by the alcoholism that has run through his family. Children are perspective and affected by everything. This means that when a parent drinks alcohol in front of their child and shows behaviors of being drunk, it can immensely disturb a young adolescent (Who are the Real Victims). Roethke is an example of this affect and that’s why it is questioned if he was motivated by his father to use poetry as an outlet.

Theodore Roethke utilizes his harsh childhood and love for nature to connect man’s spirituality to the outside world in “Night Journey,” “In a Dark Time,” and “Journey Into the Interior.” In order to fully comprehend Roethke’s poems and his writing’s roots, having knowledge of his personal life is crucial. His life within the greenhouse affected his outlook on the rest of the world and on himself. Theodore’s father, Otto Roethke, and uncle, Charles Roethke, had immigrated to the U.S. and built his florist business, including the greenhouse. Theodore grew up following the two around, gaining knowledge about plant life, which would later affect his writing in his poems.

Childhood memories of his father's greenhouse, field, and stand of virgin timber in Michigan's Saginaw Valley characterize Roethke's poetry. The poet's memories provide a fund to draw from for the

In today’s world, our past experiences tremendously affect the way we interpret different things. Theodore Roethke wrote a poem titled “My Papa’s Waltz.” This poem has a plethora of different interpretations. For example, those of us who grew up with a terrible childhood might think of it as a small boy who is being abused by his father; however, others who enjoyed their childhood memories with their father may interpret it to be a poem about a father and son having fun together. 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 wrote “My Papa’s Waltz to get his readers

Inspiration is the key to success. The things that inspire people lend a helping hand to them and their ideas or work. Once they are started they end up becoming successful. In this case, Theodore Roethke had many inspirations and is a well-known American poet. His inspirations included his mental illness, the Romantic era, and the beauty of

This essay will discuss the themes in Poe’s writing that mirror his personal life and, in addition, the fear and supernatural motivators for his characters. First, I will discuss Poe’s background and explore how he became best known as a poet for his tales of mystery and macabre.

“Roethke was a great poet, the successor to Frost and Stevens in modern American poetry, and it is the measure of his greatness that his work repays detailed examination” (Parini 1). Theodore Roethke was a romantic who wrote in a variety of styles throughout his long successful career. However, it was not the form of his verse that was important, but the message being delivered and the overall theme of the work. Roethke was a deep thinker and often pondered about and reflected on his life. This introspection was the topic of much of his poetry. His analysis of his self and his emotional experiences are often expressed in his verse. According to Ralph J. Mills Jr., “this self interest was the primary matter of

In “This Is the Dark Time My Love,” Martin Carter illustrates the intersection of fear, anxiety and ominousness by showcasing a conflict between the invaders and residents. The narrator sets the tone by initially painting a picture of bleak hopelessness. The use of visual imagery and poetic devices enables readers to not only feel the dread and despair that the narrator feels but they can also picture a dark time where conflict and oppression reign supreme. Carter reinforces the dark tone throughout the poem by using dark, metallic imagery while including elements such as nature and night-time. While the narrator is informing “his love” of all what is occurring, he evokes a feeling of sympathy from the reader that also casts a dark shadow on