Analysis Of My Papa s Waltz
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 ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Typically, when people see signs of abuse, they reach conclusions; especially, because the word
romped has a sexual connotation. To clarify, when the ...hung on like death: is mentioned, an image of
forceful physical contact comes to most readers minds. When slid from the kitchen shelf is mentioned
people immediately assume that he beat his son until the pans slid off the shelf. As for the positive, it
can be assumed that there was simply a father playing roughly with his son. Roethke mentions, My
mother s countenance/ could not unfrown itself. Could it be that his mother was upset that the father
played extremely rough that the pans slid or that she could not do anything about the fact that her son
was getting abused. Was there a possibility that she was getting abused too? The reader now begins to
ponder whether it is a fond memory, abuse, or both are present. Furthermore, the analysis of the third
stanza, relates to the fond memory. Roethke descriptively mentions, The hand that held my wrist/Was
battered on one knuckle; The battered knuckle can be a sign of the father s manual labor; on the
contrary, it can be the beating of his child leaving his hand injured. Even though, these two points can
be argued thoroughly, the following line, At every step you missed/My right ear scraped a buckle.
supports the idea that the child could have been playing
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