Summary Of My Papa's Waltz
My Papa’s Waltz
Theodore Roethke has shared a very well written poem with the world. His writing is attention grabbing and very thorough. People have come to two main interpretations of what the poem My Papa's Waltz means. One conclusion is that the waltz is a metaphor for abuse and the second conclusion is that the papa described is literally doing his and his grandchild’s “waltz” together. My Papa’s Waltz, in my belief, is metaphorically speaking about an alcoholic father who abuses his child.
Delivering the reader complete contentment is clearly not a main priority in this poem. Struggle is clearly present in this case where "Such waltzing was not easy"(4). The son "hung on like death” (3) builds a dark, unsettling image in one's mind and creates a feeling of suspense that is hard to ignore. Exultance is obtained in most cases
…show more content…
A joyful dance between a boy and his father that caused the pans to slide "from the kitchen shelf"(6) would at the most create a small sign of disapproval. If the dance was truly bringing happiness to the father and son then the mother's countenance could effortlessly become jovial. In this occasion though the mother showed no sign of enjoyment. In this occasion the mother seemed as if the "waltz" was somewhat of a painful sight.
My Papa's Waltz is a well written poem that forces the reader to think hard about every individual word. Theodore Roethke has written a brain churning piece of art. The two main interpretations are both questionable but the interpretation involving abuse stands out. The large amount of negative words and phrases, the father being under the influence of alcohol, and the mother being so disapproving causes one to strongly conjecture if the poem is meant to be blithe. "Such waltzing was not easy" (4) because abuse is not something anyone should take let alone a
Why Does Theodore Roethke Use Ambiguous Language
119 Words | 1 PagesIn “My Papa’s Waltz,” poet Theodore Roethke uses sensory details and ambiguous language to persuade both the boy and the reader that the boy still loves his father, despite him being an alcoholic. On the third sentence of the first stanza, Roethke uses ambiguous language by stating: “But I hung on like death. Such waltzing was not easy.” Although this plainly means that the boy was holding onto his father without ease, it can be interpreted in another way; the boy still loves his father, even though it is hard to love him with his alcoholism at times, and the boy still loves his father very much. The boy is reflecting on this idea while waltzing with his
Compare And Contrast Po Boy Blues And A Raisin In The Sun
666 Words | 3 PagesBoth Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and Langston Hughe’s “Po’ Boy Blues” present Walter Lee Younger and the speaker of the poem as men with similar stories, however both reach different conclusions with their struggles. Both men at the start of their stories have hopes and dreams. Later, their trust is betrayed and they lose their thoughts of happiness. However, at the end, Walter is able to regain his determination to keep fighting and surviving, while the narrator of the poem is unable. Both protagonists believe in their dreams, and have high hopes for the future.
My Papas Waltz Analysis
657 Words | 3 Pages“My Papas Waltz” Child abuse and playing are complete opposites. “My Papas Waltz” is written two display both. “My Papas Waltz” is a famous poem by Theodore Roethke about a child and his father in the kitchen. It can be interpreted as abusive or playful. Reading the poem, the first time through it appears to be abusive.
Similarities Between My Papa's Waltz And Those Winter Sundays
797 Words | 4 PagesThe first poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Robert Hayden, has a very happy tone the first reading. However upon a second reading a sense of harshness and sorrow seem to some into play. In the first reading the thought “wow this is really cute he is dancing with his son, maybe he's a little tipsy and is having fun with his kid
My Papa's Waltz Analysis Essay
1237 Words | 5 PagesAlthough one may misinterpret the first paragraph, “the whiskey on your breath, could make a small boy dizzy; but I hung on like death: such waltzing was not easy” (Line 1- 4), it means that, despite the fact that the father was slightly drunk, he was capable of waltzing with his son, albeit clumsily. He was excitedly frolicking with his son and certainly not pummeling him as some readers may think. Lines in the second stanza, “we romped until the pans, slid from the kitchen shelf; my mother’s countenance, could not unfrown itself” (Line 5-8), suggests that the child was clearly enthusiastic about the waltz only to the penitence of his concerned mother. To further suggest that the poem is written as a warm nostalgic memory, the author employs a waltzing tune and
My Papa's Waltz And Those Winter Sundays Analysis
871 Words | 4 PagesThroughout “My Papa’s Waltz” and “Those Winter Sundays”, the author’s reflect on how their fathers were hard workers, although each memory is emotionally different. In “My Papa’s Waltz”, Roethke remembers his father coming home from work and his hands “Was battered on one knuckle” (Line 10). Even though the father had a long day at work, the boy recounts him coming home and dancing with him. Whereas “Those Winter Sundays”, Hayden recalls his fathers hard work by describing his “Cracked hands that ached/
Connotation In My Papa's Waltz
902 Words | 4 PagesThe relationship between father and son is one that is both sacred, yet complex as each side of the relationship faces hardships. This relationship between a son and his role model, a father and his child, is one, has its ups, but one must also know it has downs. In Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz,” Roethke’s use of ambiguity through diction allows room for the audience to interpret the text in a positive or a negative way, representing the relationship between a father and a son, which on the outside can be interpreted in an either positive or a negative way. Roethke’s use of diction creates an element of confusion for the audience of his poem.
My Papa's Waltz And Those Winter Sundays
683 Words | 3 PagesEvery story consists of different elements, such as characters, plotlines, and settings. Nonetheless, many stories portray the same messages or ideas. “My Papa’s Waltz,” by Theodore Roethke, depicts a reckless father who is loved by his child, while “Those Winter Sundays,” by Robert Hayden, depicts a hardworking father whose child is indifferent to him. Though the poems depict exceptionally different childhoods, both contribute to the idea that perceptions of parents alter as one grows into adulthood. Both poems use harsh words and critical tones in order to convey this notion, however in “My Papa’s Waltz,” they signify the recklessness of the father and how the narrator perceives his father as an adult, while in “Those Winter Sundays,” they
Compare And Contrast Sylvia Plath And My Papa's Waltz
846 Words | 4 PagesComparing and contrasting Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy” and Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz”, one finds the two poems are similar with their themes of abuse, yet contrasting with how the themes are portrayed. Furthermore, the speaker 's feelings toward their fathers’ in each poem contrast. One speaker was hurt by the father and the other speaker was indifferent about how he was treated by his father. The fathers’ feelings toward the children are also different despite how each treated the child. Both poems accurately portray the parent-child relationships within an abusive home, even if they have different
My Papa's Waltz Devices Analysis
563 Words | 3 PagesAlthough “Papa” may not be the most sensitive man around, but he is still to be a hero in his son's eyes. Referring from the title of “My Papa’s Waltz”, “Papa” does not seem like he’s being violent intentionally but not accidentally hurting his son. This poem also, symbolizes dance in the relationship of a father and
My Papa's Waltz Compare And Contrast
802 Words | 4 PagesEverything in life has similarities and differences as long as you're looking for them, but some have more than others. Comparing similarities and difference between two things in life is making a compare and contrast (book) . When comparing and contrasting two pieces of literature you have to observe not only the themes of them but also the plot. Fences by August Wilson and My Papa's Waltz by Theodore Roethke have many similarities and differences throughout the literature due to themes and the plot.
Compare And Contrast My Papa's Waltz
596 Words | 3 PagesThe child try to teach the father waltzing but while they are doing it the father messed things up. But at the end his/her dad dances him all the way to bed, and the child still wants to cling on to the whirling, waltzing man the the child loves, doesn’t matter how much the father’s breath smells like whiskey, or how battered his knuckles may be. The father (from Grape Sherbet) made his sherbet, that masterpiece of swirled snow, gelled light. It’s a memory of a Memorial Day picnic with the speaker now realizing there was something to
Analysis Of My Papas Waltz By Theodore Roethke
764 Words | 4 PagesIn the final analysis, most readers of this poem tend to deduce a dark theme of physical violence due to its tone, word choice and imagery. Nonetherless, Roethke balances positive and negative tones of the poem to give it a rich and ambiguous quality. The exceeding tendency to paint the picture of child abuse deprives it, of this quality. “My Papa’s Waltz,” illustrates a special and powerful moment, shared between a father and a son through a waltz.
Imagery In My Papa's Waltz
898 Words | 4 Pages“We romped until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf;” (5-6) we already know that the father has been drinking, Roethke’s diction leaves little to the imagination but chosen carefully have put together an educated form of rough play. We also witness in the next two lines that the mother is not at all happy about the situation, “my mother’s countenance could not unfrown itself.” (7-8) If there is a positive message from this poem, we do not see it any longer. There is no mention of the mother helping; there is just an image of a mother standing back letting the waltz
How Does Adichie Use Papa As A Tragic Hero
998 Words | 4 PagesPapa uses his violence to empower himself to the point in which the whole family is submissive, and silent about it. Simply put, Papa’s violence can be used to justify him as either a tragic hero or a
More about Summary Of My Papa's Waltz
Why Does Theodore Roethke Use Ambiguous Language
119 Words | 1 PagesCompare And Contrast Po Boy Blues And A Raisin In The Sun
666 Words | 3 PagesMy Papas Waltz Analysis
657 Words | 3 PagesSimilarities Between My Papa's Waltz And Those Winter Sundays
797 Words | 4 PagesMy Papa's Waltz Analysis Essay
1237 Words | 5 PagesMy Papa's Waltz And Those Winter Sundays Analysis
871 Words | 4 PagesConnotation In My Papa's Waltz
902 Words | 4 PagesMy Papa's Waltz And Those Winter Sundays
683 Words | 3 PagesCompare And Contrast Sylvia Plath And My Papa's Waltz
846 Words | 4 PagesMy Papa's Waltz Devices Analysis
563 Words | 3 PagesMy Papa's Waltz Compare And Contrast
802 Words | 4 PagesCompare And Contrast My Papa's Waltz
596 Words | 3 PagesAnalysis Of My Papas Waltz By Theodore Roethke
764 Words | 4 PagesImagery In My Papa's Waltz
898 Words | 4 PagesHow Does Adichie Use Papa As A Tragic Hero
998 Words | 4 Pages