My Papa's Waltz Literary Devices

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Garble Versification For a long period of decades, students through their education are being taught about poetry, however, it has been controversial due to the connotations, figurative language, and the sequence in author's word choice. Critics articulate this type of poetry on My Papa’s Waltz poem written by Theodore Roethke ventilated child abuse. A young undiscovered poet to be, Born on May 25, 1908 in Michigan. He grew up playing in his father greenhouse, his life experiences consequence his later writings. As a poet and professor, he taught at prestigious Universities. He won several awards including the National Book award and the Pulitzer Prize for his high- minded poetry. Literates suggest the poem to be a father and son bonding. While others classify the steps into categorizing rough-housing.

In the first stanza Roethke proposes a hidden abuse by his word choice
“ The whiskey on your breath
Could make a small boy dizzy; …show more content…

Because the little boy didn’t want to miss his past time with his father “ We romped until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf (5-6).” The connotation of romped can have two different meanings depending on how it is used. In this case, it pertains to be playing rough and in rapid movements. Not because the father was abusing the child but because the type of dance required it. The pans slid because as they were dancing they would hit the kitchen pans. The floor was shaking as they were stomping the floor. While others can take it as if the father was throwing the child against the pans in the kitchen cabinets. Roethke words designate a rough play between the father and the son, especially to those who are not familiar with poetry. The question becomes, did the child (Theodore) wanted to play roughly? or was he having fun and going along Waltzing? As stated on the quote “You beat time on my

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