The Meaning Of My Papa's Waltz By Theodore Roethke

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As I read through penned poems, dissecting them delicately to find the meaning within, I notice my conclusion differs from my neighboring classmates. How is this so? The same text lies before us, while the same flow carries us from one stanza to the next. However, my mind forms the image of a beast, whereas they only see beauty weaved between each spoken word. The meaning of a poem takes the likeness of a snowflake; it’s indefinite and unique to the individual who reviews the material. One poem in particular that highlights this statement’s truth is “My Papa’s Waltz,” written by Theodore Roethke.
“My Papa’s Waltz” portrays the image of a young boy participating in a “waltz” with his father one evening. Throughout the poem, we are given a vivid description of the father himself, which is the pivotal point that …show more content…
The most common cause for differentiation in the way a poem is expounded, I believe, is personal experience. I find that reflecting on your own life happenings, and attempting to connect with those in the literature work can help better your understanding of the content. In the given example of “My Papa’s Waltz,” viewpoints of the night the child experienced will differ from individual to individual, partly depending on their past. For those who grew up with an abusive parent, placing themselves in the shoes of the speaker could amount to reliving a nightmare. On the other hand, someone who maintained an excellent relationship with their own Papa, would presumably refer to this piece as being a joyful, relatable memory. The idea that “My Papa’s Waltz” contains a drunken, abusive father versus the idea that the encounter retold is simply a loving exchange between a hard-working Dad and his son, is the split interpretation most commonly received. If experience doesn’t steer you toward either direction, looking closer at word choice
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