My Papa's Waltz Diction

While the subject of “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke has spurred passionate academic debate from professors, scholars, and students alike, the imagery, syntax, and diction of the poem clearly support the interpretation that Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” to express a fond memory between him and his father dancing when he was young. Roethke had a loving relationship with his father even if he was constantly working in a greenhouse. “My Papa’s Waltz” was first published in his book The Lost Son and Other Poems. This shows that he still deeply thinks about his father passing away and has not fully recovered. Professors, scholars, and students have debated whether the subject of the poem is an abusive night with his drunken father late at night, or a memorable night with his father dancing throughout the house. One might argue that the connotation of words such as “beat,” “whiskey,” and “romped” can connotate to the reader assuming abusive actions are involved throughout the

poem. On the other hand, the argument of the father beating time on his head connotates to him keeping time for the son and helping him dance. Further, the poem uses multiple words to give off two meaning to the reader. Ultimately, Roethke wrote “My Papa’s Waltz” to highlight a wonderful moment spent with his father instead of a traumatic experience by using word choice and imagery.
Roethke’s use of diction throughout the poem allows the reader to interpret the poem as positive or negative.

For example, the word “beat” in the line “You beat time on my head” allows the reader to interpret the line in two different ways; the reader can see it as the father beating the son on the head, or the father helping the son keep time to the dance. His choice of words can make the reader imagine two different situations that are taking place. Moreover, the lines “at every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle,” can make the reader assume that the father is hitting his son with his belt when he makes a mistake. On the contrary, the reader can imagine the son bumping into the belt of the father when he misses a step because of his height. Roethke’s use of diction allows the lines throughout the poem to have two different interpretations. Ultimately, he allows the reader to have their own view of the poem when his purpose was to retell a fond memory he shared with his

father.
The poem “Papa’s Waltz” uses imagery throughout the poem in order to provide the reader with a clear image of what is happening in the poem. In particular, he states, “The whiskey on your breath.” This line helps the reader vividly imagine what the father smelled like. Since he smelled like alcohol, the reader can assume that the father intoxicated when spending time with his son. Similarly, Roethke helps convey his message with imagery with the line, “But I hung on like death.” With this line, he helps show the reader that he was holding onto his father tightly while dancing. It has been argued by scholars that this line can tell the reader that the son was clinging onto the bit of life he had left because be was being beaten and abused so much. The author intended this line to be interpreted as himself gripping onto his father while they are dancing. Ultimately, Roethke uses imagery to help the reader interpret his poem as a fond memory with his dad.