Tone Of My Papa's Waltz By Theodore Roethke
Literary Analysis - “My Papa’s Waltz”
Theodore Roethke wrote many poems about his father, “My Papa’s Waltz” is one particular poem that is still the source of much debate, both in college classrooms and among established literary critics. Initially, the poem appears to be a young boys fond recollection of a dance with a tipsy, but loving father. Many who read it strongly disagree, and feel that the tone is much more severe, and alludes to a drunken and abusive father. To clarify this argument, one must closely analyze the syntax, and search for the true intent of Roethke’s careful chosen words. Upon close examination, the poem seems to convey an intriguing ambiguity that lends itself to both arguments.
The poems title, “My Papa’s Waltz”, is the first indication of the authors intended tone. Roethke had innumerable choices for the title of his poem, so we must …show more content…
Line one, “The whiskey on your breath” conveys a father who has been drinking and is now interacting with his small child (1). The stanza continues with words like “dizzy” and “death” and so Roethke begins to set the stage for his tricky and hazy recollection (2;3). More negative words follow, and throughout the poem we see examples of words that, at face value, have negative connotations. He describes his mother, who is witnessing this mess-making as they “romped”, as having a “Countenance” that “could not unfrown itself” (5;7;8). This obvious disapproval might suggest again that something unsavory, perhaps even dangerous, is occurring.
Roehtke proceeds with more negative language, describing a father who is missing dance steps, and with every one missed, his sons “right ear scraped a buckle” (12). All the while the father it keeping his rhythm by “beating time” on his sons head (13). Again, Roethke’s word choice appears to point toward a violent, even painful encounter between father and
Theodore Roethke wrote many poems about his father, “My Papa’s Waltz” is one particular poem that is still the source of much debate, both in college classrooms and among established literary critics. Initially, the poem appears to be a young boys fond recollection of a dance with a tipsy, but loving father. Many who read it strongly disagree, and feel that the tone is much more severe, and alludes to a drunken and abusive father. To clarify this argument, one must closely analyze the syntax, and search for the true intent of Roethke’s careful chosen words. Upon close examination, the poem seems to convey an intriguing ambiguity that lends itself to both arguments.
The poems title, “My Papa’s Waltz”, is the first indication of the authors intended tone. Roethke had innumerable choices for the title of his poem, so we must …show more content…
Line one, “The whiskey on your breath” conveys a father who has been drinking and is now interacting with his small child (1). The stanza continues with words like “dizzy” and “death” and so Roethke begins to set the stage for his tricky and hazy recollection (2;3). More negative words follow, and throughout the poem we see examples of words that, at face value, have negative connotations. He describes his mother, who is witnessing this mess-making as they “romped”, as having a “Countenance” that “could not unfrown itself” (5;7;8). This obvious disapproval might suggest again that something unsavory, perhaps even dangerous, is occurring.
Roehtke proceeds with more negative language, describing a father who is missing dance steps, and with every one missed, his sons “right ear scraped a buckle” (12). All the while the father it keeping his rhythm by “beating time” on his sons head (13). Again, Roethke’s word choice appears to point toward a violent, even painful encounter between father and