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“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke: A Critical Analysis

“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke first appeared in 1942 in the collection The Lost Son and Other Poems.

Introduction: “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke

Table of Contents

“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke first appeared in 1942 in the collection The Lost Son and Other Poems. It is known for its complex portrayal of a father-son relationship through the metaphor of a waltz. It evokes a mix of emotions, including joy, fear, and nostalgia, through vivid imagery and a rhythmic structure that mirrors the dance itself. The poem’s ambiguity has led to various interpretations, ranging from a celebration of playful interaction to a darker depiction of a potentially abusive situation. Roethke’s skillful use of language and form has made “My Papa’s Waltz” a timeless piece that continues to resonate with readers today.

Text: “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke

The whiskey on your breath   

Could make a small boy dizzy;   

But I hung on like death:   

Such waltzing was not easy.

We romped until the pans   

Slid from the kitchen shelf;   

My mother’s countenance   

Could not unfrown itself.

The hand that held my wrist   

Was battered on one knuckle;   

At every step you missed

My right ear scraped a buckle.

You beat time on my head   

With a palm caked hard by dirt,   

Then waltzed me off to bed   

Still clinging to your shirt.

Annotations: “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke

Literary And Poetic Devices: “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke

Themes : “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke

• Theme 1: Complicated Love: The poem explores the complex and tumultuous relationship between the speaker and their father. Despite the father’s rough and drunken behavior, the speaker clings to him, suggesting a deep love and desire for connection. The lines “I hung on like death: / Such waltzing was not easy” (Roethke 3-4) highlight the speaker’s determination to hold on to their father, even in the face of difficulty.
• Theme 2: Childhood Innocence: The poem captures the innocence and naivety of childhood, as the speaker recounts a memory from their youth. The speaker’s focus on the physical details of the waltz, such as the “buckle” scraping their ear (Roethke 12), suggests a childlike perspective. The poem also highlights the way children often overlook or forgive their parents’ flaws, as the speaker seems to do with their father’s drunkenness.
• Theme 3: Domestic Tension: The poem hints at tension and conflict within the family, particularly between the speaker’s parents. The mother’s “countenance / Could not unfrown itself” (Roethke 7-8), suggesting a permanent scowl, implies a strained relationship. The speaker’s father, too, is portrayed as rough and careless, creating a sense of unease in the home.
• Theme 4: Memory and Nostalgia: The poem is a nostalgic reflection on a past event, with the speaker looking back on a childhood memory. The poem’s waltz-like rhythm and the speaker’s fondness for the memory suggest a sense of nostalgia and longing. The speaker’s recollection of their father’s “whiskey on your breath” (Roethke 1) and the “dirt” on his palm (Roethke 11) also highlights the way memories can be vivid and sensory.

Literary Theories and “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke

Critical Questions about “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke

• Is the “waltz” in the poem a metaphor for abuse or a playful interaction?
• The poem presents a complex and ambiguous image of the father-son relationship through the metaphor of a waltz. While the dance itself could be seen as a playful interaction, the lines “The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy” and “My right ear scraped a buckle” suggest a potential for harm. The poem leaves it open to interpretation whether the “waltz” represents a loving, albeit rough, display of affection or a more sinister power dynamic.
• How does the mother’s presence contribute to the poem’s meaning?
• The mother’s “countenance” that “could not unfrown itself” is a silent but powerful presence in the poem. Her inability to intervene or change the situation adds another layer of complexity to the family dynamics. It raises questions about her role in the household, her relationship with the father, and the societal expectations of women at the time.
• What is the significance of the physical details of the father, such as his battered knuckle and dirt-caked palm? These details serve to characterize the father as a working-class man, perhaps worn down by life’s hardships. The battered knuckle could hint at violence or a difficult past, while the dirt-caked palm suggests a life of manual labor. These details contribute to the poem’s complex portrait of the father, who is both tender and rough, playful and potentially harmful.
• How does the poem’s structure and rhythm contribute to its meaning?
• “My Papa’s Waltz” is written in iambic trimeter, a rhythmic pattern that mimics the waltz itself. This creates a musicality that contrasts with the poem’s potentially darker themes. The use of rhyme also adds to the poem’s sing-song quality, further emphasizing the contrast between the playful surface and the underlying tension. This formal structure invites readers to experience the emotional complexity of the poem through its rhythm and sound.

Literary Works Similar to “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke

• “ The Garden of Love” by William Blake : Explores complex relationships and childhood innocence in a symbolic and lyrical way.
• “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden : Reflects on a difficult childhood relationship with a parent, exploring themes of love and nostalgia.
• “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath : Examines a tumultuous relationship with a father figure, using vivid imagery and emotional intensity.
• “ The New Colossus ” by Emma Lazarus : Uses metaphor and symbolism to explore themes of family, love, and the American Dream.
• “ Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night ” by Dylan Thomas : Expresses intense emotion and longing in a poem about a complex relationship with a parent.

Suggested Readings: “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke

• Roethke, Theodore. The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke . Anchor Books, 1975.
• Seager, Allan. The Glass House: The Life of Theodore Roethke . University of Michigan Press, 2014.

Web Links/URLs:

• Poetry Foundation: “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43330/my-papas-waltz
• Modern American Poetry: Theodore Roethke: [invalid URL removed]
• Academy of American Poets: Theodore Roethke: https://poets.org/poet/theodore-roethke

Representative Quotations: “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke

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• “The Tyger” by William Blake: Analysis

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A Summary and Analysis of Theodore Roethke’s ‘My Papa’s Waltz’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘My Papa’s Waltz’ is one of the most popular and most widely studied poems by the American poet Theodore Roethke (1908-63). In this poem, published in 1948, Roethke recalls dancing with his drunken father, remembering this childhood experience with mixed feelings.

‘My Papa’s Waltz’: summary

The poem comprises four stanzas, with each stanza containing four lines. The poem describes the waltz the poet would perform at home with his father.

In the first stanza, Roethke addresses his father directly, apostrophising him (that is, addressing someone who is absent). His father had drunk so much whiskey that Roethke could smell it on his breath, and it made him dizzy, as he was so young and not used to alcohol.

But although he felt dizzy, Roethke hung on to his father for dear life, because dancing this particular waltz was not easy and required concentration.

In the second stanza, Roethke recalls how they danced around the kitchen until the pans began to fall off the shelf. The poet’s face was permanently frowning while she watched her husband and son waltzing together, perhaps because she did not approve of the effects of their dancing (those pans falling from the shelf) or because she was sick and tired of her husband, the poet’s father, drinking whiskey and getting inebriated.

The third stanza sees the poet remembering how his father’s hand, the one keeping hold of the boy’s wrist, was battered on one knuckle, while every time the father misses a step in the dance, the boy’s ear scrapes across the father’s belt buckle.

In the final stanza, the poet recalls his father beating musical time on his son’s head with his palm (dirty, we assume, from hard work), before dancing his son off to bed while the boy clings onto his father’s shirt (more on this closing image below).

‘My Papa’s Waltz’: analysis

What kind of poem is ‘My Papa’s Waltz’? It’s clearly a personal poem, in which the poet himself (we can label the speaker in the poem as Roethke with some confidence, based on biographical information) recalls dancing with his father in the kitchen at home. Roethke’s father, Otto, a German immigrant to the United States, had died when the poet was still a teenager.

Indeed, given the autobiographical nature of this poem and the frankness with which Roethke revisits some troubling memories from his childhood, this poem is sometimes viewed as a forerunner to confessional poetry which would be popularised by Robert Lowell, Sylvia Plath, and others around a decade later, in the late 1950s.

And ‘My Papa’s Waltz’ may appear, to the casual reader, to be a memory of a happy occasion involving the poet’s father. But there’s an undercurrent violence, and the threat of violence, lurking beneath the surface: the father has been drinking, of course, and note how he beats time on his son’s head (and why is one of the father’s knuckles ‘battered’, we might ask?).

He is careless, perhaps as a result of the whiskey he has been drinking; but when he misses a step, his son pays for his mistake, by scraping his ear on his father’s belt buckle. (This gives us an idea of how young Roethke must have been at the time: he is small next to his enormous father, and his head only comes up to his dancing partner’s waist.)

Roethke, by contrast, is characterised by his holding on: he hangs onto his father ‘like death’ (a grimmer turn of phrase than the synonymous ‘hang on for dear life’), and is ‘clinging’ onto his father’s shirt as he is danced off to bed. All he can do is cling on: if dancing is about one partner leading and the other following their lead, the father is clearly the active one, his son a passive participant who is swept up in the experience.

Indeed, that final image is an example of what makes Roethke’s poem so difficult to pin down whenever we try to analyse its meaning. Is the young Roethke clinging to his father’s shirt out of love and a desire to be close to him? Or is it merely for the more pragmatic reason that he doesn’t want his drunken father to drop him next time he misses a step?

Throughout ‘My Papa’s Waltz’, Roethke uses poetic devices effectively to enhance this suggestion of violence. For example, when in the final stanza he tells us that his father ‘beat time on my head’ we are left wondering how his father did this (with a stick?), until we read on to the next line and find it’s the more innocent (though still troubling) ‘With a palm caked hard by dirt’.

This is an example of enjambment : the running-over of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next, without punctuation at the end of the line. Roethke masterfully uses this device to full effect here to give us a moment of pause between the lines, to introduce the threat of violence (already there within the verb ‘beat’) only to minimise that threat as we continue to read.

In the last analysis, then, Roethke’s poem reveals the poet’s ambivalent feelings towards his father as he remembers him now he is an adult himself. There is a suggestion of more violent and fearful moments for the young boy (and we wonder whether the mother’s perpetual frown is revealing of more domestic misery), but there’s also a warmth to the poem, especially in Roethke’s final image of clinging to his father’s shirt.

‘My Papa’s Waltz’: form

In some respects, ‘My Papa’s Waltz’ is an atypical Theodore Roethke poem. If you read one of his other well-known and oft-anthologised poems – ‘ The Waking ’, perhaps, or ‘ Child on Top of a Greenhouse ’ – you will see how much plainer and more direct the language of ‘My Papa’s Waltz’ is than those poems.

However, Roethke’s poetry is always attentive to form, and this poem is formally regular, arranged into four quatrains (four-line stanzas) rhymed abab . The alternate rhyme and the steady iambic trimeter metre of the poem both summon the waltz itself. The metre is iambic trimeter, which means there are three iambs in each line, an iamb being a foot comprising a light stress followed by a heavy stress. We can see this in the line:

You BEAT time ON my HEAD

Although, occasionally, there are some variations: in the first and third stanzas, the even lines contain an extra syllable at the end of the line (on ‘dizzy’, ‘easy’, ‘knuckle’, and ‘buckle’). This is known as a hypermetrical stress, because it is found over the end of the line, on top of the three iambs which precede it.

There’s also an anapaestic substitution (if we wish to be technical) at the beginning of the second line of the final stanza (‘With a PALM’, where there are two light stresses before the first heavy stress in the line).

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My Papa’s Waltz Summary & Analysis by Theodore Roethke

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

“My Papa’s Waltz” was written by the American poet Theodore Roethke. It was first published in 1942, then collected in his book The Lost Son and Other Poems in 1948. At first glance, the poem describes a charming family scene: a father and son dance together in the kitchen, roughhousing and romping around. But the speaker supplies a number of hints that things aren’t quite as happy as they seem. The poem subtly reflects on the tension between fathers and sons—tension that in turn may suggest undercurrents of violence.

• Read the full text of “My Papa’s Waltz”

The Full Text of “My Papa’s Waltz”

“my papa’s waltz” summary, “my papa’s waltz” themes.

Fathers, Sons, and Masculinity

Line-by-line explanation & analysis of “my papa’s waltz”.

The whiskey on ... ... was not easy.

We romped until ... ... not unfrown itself.

The hand that ... ... scraped a buckle.

Lines 13-16

You beat time ... ... to your shirt.

“My Papa’s Waltz” Symbols

• Line 5: “pans”

• Line 4: “waltzing”
• Line 15: “waltzed”

“My Papa’s Waltz” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

End-stopped line.

• Line 2: “dizzy;”
• Line 3: “death:”
• Line 4: “easy.”
• Line 6: “shelf;”
• Line 8: “itself.”
• Line 10: “knuckle;”
• Line 12: “buckle.”
• Line 14: “dirt,”
• Line 16: “shirt.”
• Lines 1-2: “breath / Could”
• Lines 5-6: “pans / Slid”
• Lines 7-8: “countenance / Could”
• Lines 9-10: “wrist / Was”
• Lines 11-12: “missed / My”
• Lines 13-14: “head / With”
• Lines 15-16: “bed  / Still”

Alliteration

• Line 1: “b”
• Line 2: “b,” “d”
• Line 3: “d”
• Line 4: “w,” “w”
• Line 5: “W”
• Line 6: “k”
• Line 7: “M,” “m,” “c”
• Line 8: “C”
• Line 9: “h,” “h”
• Line 10: “b”
• Line 11: “m”
• Line 12: “M,” “b”
• Line 13: “b,” “h”
• Line 14: “c,” “h”
• Line 15: “b”
• Line 16: “c”
• Line 1: “o,” “ea”
• Line 2: “a”
• Line 3: “I,” “o,” “i,” “ea”
• Line 4: “a,” “o”
• Line 5: “i”
• Line 6: “i,” “i,” “e,” “e”
• Line 7: “ou,” “e”
• Line 8: “ow,” “e”
• Line 9: “i”
• Line 10: “o,” “u”
• Line 11: “e,” “e,” “i”
• Line 12: “u”
• Line 13: “i,” “y,” “ea”
• Line 14: “y,” “i”
• Line 15: “a,” “o,” “e”
• Line 16: “i,” “i,” “i,” “i”
• Line 1: “w,” “r,” “b,” “r”
• Line 2: “d,” “m,” “m,” “b,” “d,” “zz”
• Line 3: “l,” “d”
• Line 4: “S,” “w,” “z,” “w,” “s,” “s”
• Line 5: “m,” “p,” “l,” “p”
• Line 6: “l,” “m,” “k,” “n,” “l,” “f”
• Line 7: “M,” “m,” “c,” “n,” “n,” “n”
• Line 8: “C,” “n,” “n,” “f,” “n,” “l,” “f”
• Line 9: “Th,” “h,” “d,” “th,” “t,” “h,” “d,” “s,” “t”
• Line 10: “b,” “tt,” “n,” “n,” “n,” “ckl”
• Line 11: “t,” “r,” “st,” “p,” “m,” “ss”
• Line 12: “M,” “r,” “r,” “s,” “cr,” “p,” “b,” “ckl”
• Line 13: “b,” “t,” “t,” “m,” “m,” “h,” “d”
• Line 14: “m,” “h,” “d,” “d,” “rt”
• Line 15: “l,” “t,” “t,” “b,” “d”
• Line 16: “ll,” “l,” “t,” “r,” “rt”
• Line 3: “But I hung on like death”

Extended Metaphor

“my papa’s waltz” vocabulary.

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

• (Location in poem: Line 4: “waltzing”; Line 15: “waltzed”)

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “My Papa’s Waltz”

Rhyme scheme, “my papa’s waltz” speaker, “my papa’s waltz” setting, literary and historical context of “my papa’s waltz”, more “my papa’s waltz” resources, external resources.

Theodore Roethke Museum — The website of the Theodore Roethke Museum, with photos, recollections from friends, and recommendations for further study.

Introduction to Roethke's Collected Poems — The full text of Edward Hirsch's introduction to Roethke's Collected Poems.

A Tribute to Roethke — Former U.S. Poet Laureate, Stanley Kunitz, reflects on the importance of Roethke's poetry.

Roethke's Life — A detailed biography of Theodore Roethke from the Poetry Foundation.

Roethke Recites "My Papa's Waltz" — Listen to the poet read his poem aloud.

LitCharts on Other Poems by Theodore Roethke

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My Papa’s Waltz

By Theodore Roethke

‘My Papa’s Waltz’ by Theodore Roethke is a surprisingly dark poem. It depicts a possibly abusive father who “waltzes” his son to bed.

Theodore Roethke

His work has been praised by many poets worldwide.

Poem Analyzed by Emma Baldwin

B.A. English (Minor: Creative Writing), B.F.A. Fine Art, B.A. Art Histories

Theodore Roethke first published ‘My Papa’s Waltz’ in 1942 but it was later included in The Lost Son and Other Poems in 1948 . This poem is often considered an autobiographical depiction of the poet’s own childhood. His father lived a hard life and the line “caked hard by dirt” might reference his profession as well as his nature.  

Explore My Papa's Waltz

• 1 Summary of My Papa’s Waltz
• 2 Themes in My Papa’s Waltz
• 3 Structure and Form of My Papa’s Waltz
• 4 Literary Devices in My Papa’s Waltz
• 5 Analysis of My Papa’s Waltz
• 6 Similar Poems 

Summary of My Papa’s Waltz

In the first lines of this poem, the speaker describes his father’s whiskey breath, his movements, and how “Such waltzing was not easy”. This waltzing is very soon revealed to be a spinning confusion of patterned violence. It’s clear that this “dance” the two engage in is not new. They “romped” and “waltzed” around the kitchen making a mess, much to the mother’s displeasure until he held his son’s wrist and took him up to bed.  

Themes in My Papa’s Waltz

Throughout this poem, Roethke explores themes of father/son relationships and violence. The latter is seen in striking moments in the second half. It is one part of their relationship, but it is not all of it. It’s clear enthuse lines that whatever kind of relationship they have it is filled with difficulties. Their dance represents the complex nature of their relationship, the arguments and physical fights, differences in belief, life goals, and day-to-day life.  

Structure and Form of My Papa’s Waltz

‘ My Papa’s Waltz’ by Theodore Roethke is a four-stanza poem that is separated into stanzas of four lines, known as quatrains . These quatrains follow a simple rhyme scheme of ABAB and make use of the meter of iambic trimeter . The metrical pattern is not consistent throughout but mostly the lines are made up of three sets of two beats, the first of which is unstressed and the second stressed. At some points, there is an extra unstressed syllable at the end of a line that interrupts the balance of the meter. This is very directly connected to the off-balance dance that the father and son are engaging in.  

Literary Devices in My Papa’s Waltz

Roethke makes use of several literary devices in ‘My Papa’s Waltz’. These include but are not limited to examples of allusion , enjambment , and similes . Throughout this poem, there are allusions to an undercurrent of violence that makes this “dance” all the stranger. In reality, the dance is a metaphor for the more complex relationship the son has with his father. Their off-balance movements represent their inability to understand one another and navigate their lives. But, it is impossible to ignore words like “battered” and phrases like “scarped a buckle” and “held my wrist” that suggest more physical violence.  

There is a good simile in the first stanza where the speaker says that he “hung on like death” to his father as they spun and romped through the kitchen. This makes it seem as though the son’s grasp is something inescapable.  

Analysis of My Papa’s Waltz

Stanza one  .

The whiskey on your breath (…)

In the first lines of ‘My Papa’s Waltz,’ the speaker describes the sights, sounds, and feelings that the “waltz” evoked. He could smell the whiskey, enough to make him dizzy. He spun, metaphorically , with his father through the house. This “dance” is a metaphor for the relationship the two have. The son holds on like death, trying to remain attached to his father. The word “death” also suggests that the son’s grasp is detrimental to the father. Perhaps he has yet to come to an understanding of how what their relationship is. It was “not easy” to hang on, to stick with his father through his ups and downs.  

(…) My mother’s countenance Could not unfrown itself.

The second stanza describes the metaphorical dance further. The son and father moved through the kitchen, disrupting the balance of the room. His mother disapproved of the whole thing. She was unable to “unfrown” herself. This suggests that she too is used to this chaotic relationship, but she doesn’t approve of it.  

Stanza Three  

The hand that held my wrist (…) My right ear scraped a buckle.

It is in the third stanza that it becomes clear that there’s something darker going on. The dance is not even as innocent as it appeared up until this point. Words like “battered” and “scraped a buckle” make it seem as though the father beats his son. There is violence in this relationship somewhere and the son is on the receiving end of it.  

Stanza Four

You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt, (…)

The fourth and final quatrain of ‘My Papa’s Waltz’ concludes the poem with the child being sent to bed. He’s still “clinging to” his father’s shirt, unwilling to let go and relinquish whatever semblance of a relationship they have. His determination is admirable even in the face of his father “beat[ing] time on” his head.  

Similar Poems  

Poems about father/son relationships are far from rare. There is any number, positive or negative, to choose from when looking through centuries of poetry. Some of these include ‘my father moved through dooms of love’ by e.e. cummings about his own father, a Unitarian minister. Or, there is ‘ Daddy’ by Sylvia Plath, often quoted as one of her most troubling poems. Quite different from Plath is ‘ I Will Go With My Father a-Plaughing’ by Joseph Campbell and ‘ Those Winter Sundays’ by Robert Hayden.

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Poems & Poets

My Papa’s Waltz

Theodore Roethke, "My Papa's Waltz" from Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke .  Copyright 1942 by Heast Magazines, Inc.  Used by permission of Doubleday, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.

Source: The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke (1961)

Analysis of my Papa’s Waltz

This essay about Theodore Roethke’s poem “My Papa’s Waltz” explores the intricate layers of interpretation present within the text. It into the seemingly tender moment between father and son, while also unraveling the darker undertones of domestic dysfunction and potential violence. Through careful analysis of language, imagery, and structure, the essay highlights the complexities inherent in familial relationships and invites readers to contemplate the varying perspectives and interpretations of the poem.

How it works

Theodore Roethke’s poem “My Papa’s Waltz” has long been a subject of critical analysis, inviting diverse interpretations that range from the innocent nostalgia of childhood to the darker themes of domestic violence and dysfunction. As a diligent student of literature, it is crucial to approach this poem with a discerning eye, examining its nuances, language, and imagery to unravel its complexities and derive a comprehensive understanding.

At first glance, “My Papa’s Waltz” appears to depict a tender moment between a father and his son engaged in a lively dance.

The waltz symbolizes intimacy and affection, as the father twirls his child around the room in a carefree manner. The use of the word “waltz” itself conjures images of grace and elegance, suggesting a harmonious interaction between the two characters. This interpretation aligns with the nostalgic reminiscence of childhood experiences, where even mundane activities take on a magical quality in retrospect.

However, upon closer examination, subtle hints emerge that complicate this seemingly idyllic portrayal. The poem’s opening line, “The whiskey on your breath / Could make a small boy dizzy,” introduces an element of ambiguity and suggests a potentially darker undertone. The smell of alcohol on the father’s breath hints at excessive drinking, raising questions about his behavior and its impact on the family dynamics.

The poem’s imagery further reinforces this ambiguity, with descriptions that evoke both warmth and discomfort. The father’s hands are described as “battered,” implying a history of roughness or violence, yet they also convey a sense of familiarity and security as they grip the child’s wrist. Similarly, the use of the word “beat” in the line “You beat time on my head” carries dual connotations, suggesting both the rhythmic movement of the dance and the possibility of physical abuse.

The poem’s language also plays a crucial role in shaping its interpretation. The use of words such as “scraped,” “battered,” and “romped” evokes a sense of physicality and roughness, contrasting with the traditional image of a tender waltz. The repeated use of the word “romped” in particular suggests a lack of control or restraint, hinting at the chaotic nature of the father’s actions.

Moreover, the poem’s structure adds another layer of complexity to its analysis. Written in iambic trimeter, with a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme, the poem has a rhythmic quality that mirrors the waltz itself. This regularity creates a sense of order and stability, even as the content of the poem suggests underlying tension and instability. The juxtaposition of form and content invites readers to consider the contrast between appearances and reality, prompting deeper reflection on the complexities of human relationships.

Ultimately, the interpretation of “My Papa’s Waltz” depends on the reader’s perspective and personal experiences. While some may see it as a nostalgic tribute to the bond between father and son, others may view it as a poignant depiction of the challenges inherent in familial relationships. As a diligent student of literature, it is important to approach this poem with an open mind and a willingness to explore its various layers of meaning.

In conclusion, Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz” defies easy categorization, inviting readers to grapple with its complex themes and imagery. Through careful analysis of its language, structure, and symbolism, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the nuances of this evocative poem. Whether viewed as a joyful celebration of childhood or a sobering exploration of family dynamics, “My Papa’s Waltz” continues to resonate with readers and spark meaningful discussions about the intricacies of human relationships.

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Stanzas Analysis of “My Papa’s Waltz” by T. Roethke Essay

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My Papa’s Waltz is a classical poem depicting typical family life. The short poem is reminiscent of a father and son dance, showing moments of joy and sadness during the Waltz. The poem is a complex piece because of the different interpretations caused by the twisted diction and other literary devices (Roethke and William 1). Stanza one and two of the poem reveal the poem’s twist and complexity as events depict the bitter-sweet experience.

Stanza one, a quatrain opens with a suggestive line “The whiskey on your breath”. This statement reveals to the reader that the narrator’s father was drunk (Roethke & William 1). The poet wrote, “Could make a small boy dizzy”, to stress the first line, which portrays a dire situation (Roethke and William 1). This statement brings out the theme of alcoholism. I think this statement was used to uncover the hidden meaning of the poem because it is when the father is heavily drunk that fear and violence creeps. The third lines indicate that he hung on like death which is a simile used to bring out the tenderness or love portrayed in the poem. Finally, the fourth line mentions that waltzing was not easy, meaning that balancing the father-son relationship was tainted by his bad habits, such as chronic alcoholism.

Stanza two provides a vivid description of waltzing by using its synonym “romping”, which means to engage in a vigorous play. Usually, aggression is intertwined with violence which depicts the bitter or sorrowful part of the poem (Roethke and William 1). As romping continued, the pans were falling because of the commotion and his mother was not pleased by this action. The mother’s helplessness is another point I think was used to depict the sad part of the poem and showcase the effects of alcoholism. The reason is that if the father were sober, he would have identified that his actions made his family uncomfortable and afraid of him.

Roethke, Theodore, and William De Witt Snodgrass. My papa’s waltz . Bluestem Press, College of Saint Benedict, 2001.

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IvyPanda. (2022, November 29). Stanzas Analysis of "My Papa's Waltz" by T. Roethke. https://ivypanda.com/essays/stanzas-analysis-of-my-papas-waltz-by-t-roethke/

"Stanzas Analysis of "My Papa's Waltz" by T. Roethke." IvyPanda , 29 Nov. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/stanzas-analysis-of-my-papas-waltz-by-t-roethke/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Stanzas Analysis of "My Papa's Waltz" by T. Roethke'. 29 November.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Stanzas Analysis of "My Papa's Waltz" by T. Roethke." November 29, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/stanzas-analysis-of-my-papas-waltz-by-t-roethke/.

1. IvyPanda . "Stanzas Analysis of "My Papa's Waltz" by T. Roethke." November 29, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/stanzas-analysis-of-my-papas-waltz-by-t-roethke/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Stanzas Analysis of "My Papa's Waltz" by T. Roethke." November 29, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/stanzas-analysis-of-my-papas-waltz-by-t-roethke/.

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‘That’s my dad!': Gus Walz tearfully cheers on his father as he accepts Democratic VP nomination

Gus Walz sat front row for the biggest moment of his father’s life. He stood, tears streaming down his face, and pointed to his father, Tim Walz, as he accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president.

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Gus Walz sat in the front row for the biggest moment of his father’s life, and his pride exploded out of him.

Tim Walz’s children were seen tearing up as he shared his family’s struggle with infertility during his DNC speech. Walz has made their personal story a central part of his narrative to connect with voters on the issue of reproductive rights.

“That’s my dad!” the 17-year-old could be seen saying. He stood, tears streaming down his face, and pointed to his father, Tim Walz , the governor of Minnesota, who was accepting the Democratic nomination for vice president in a speech to thousands of people in a packed arena and millions more watching at home.

The teen’s exuberance captured hearts and went viral, becoming perhaps the defining image of his father’s address and further humanizing a running mate picked by Vice President Kamala Harris in no small part for his everyman appeal.

Gus wept through much of his father’s speech, and when it was over, climbed on stage with his family and wrapped his dad in a tight bear hug, burying his face in his shoulder.

The moment was still causing such a stir nearly 24 hours later that, when organizers played “Born in the U.S.A.” during Thursday night’s program, Gus was shown on the arena’s large screens dancing as his father and other family members sang along.

Gus is a high school senior. His parents recently disclosed to People magazine he has a non-verbal learning disorder, ADHD and an anxiety disorder. But they called his condition “his secret power” and said he’s “brilliant” and poised for success. He got his driver’s license last fall.

When Tim Walz was elected governor, Gus cheered because it meant he could get a dog. They adopted a black lab named Scout a few months later.

It’s Day 4 of the DNC. Here’s what to know:

• A look at the prepared schedule for the fourth and final night, which does not include potential surprise guests .
• An unexpected highlight of the DNC Day 3 was an outburst of pride from Gus, the son of vice presidential candidate Tim Walz .
• What to watch tonight: Vice President Kamala Harris will accept her party’s nomination during a speech in which she is widely expected to offer her vision and policy agenda to the American people.
• ‘The answer is no': Pro-Palestinian delegates say their request for a speaker at the DNC was shut down .
• Live updates: Follow The AP’s live coverage and analysis from the 2024 Democratic National Convention .

Gus Walz is getting his own turn in the spotlight after his older sister, 23-year-old Hope Walz, delighted Americans with the playful social media videos she filmed with their dad.

Tim Walz talks often about the fertility treatments his wife, Gwen, underwent to get pregnant with Hope, a journey he says inspired her name. As he told the story Wednesday, Hope made a heart with her hands and held it over her chest.

“Hope, Gus and Gwen,” Walz said to his family, “you are my entire world, and I love you.”

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — My Papa's Waltz — Comparison of Two Poems: My Papa’s Waltz and My Winter Sundays

Comparison of Two Poems: My Papa's Waltz and My Winter Sundays

• Categories: My Papa's Waltz Poetry Those Winter Sundays

About this sample

Words: 790 |

Published: May 14, 2021

Words: 790 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Works Cited

• Hayden, Robert. “Those Winter Sundays.” 1966.
• Roethke, Theodore. “My Pap's Waltz.” 1942.

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