Theodore Roethke Imagery

Sense imagery is very important to convey an author’s message. Two poems that are a prime example of how to use sensory imagery are “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke and “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen. The use of sensory imagery in literature is a tool for the author to provide the audience a realistic description of his/her work. The reader can not only interpret the words, but can visualize, smell, hear, taste and touch the author’s intent.

First of all, “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke is a profound look into the childhood memories through the eyes of a small boy. Roethke’s choice of the title of the poem is a powerful use of sensory imagery. Furthermore, the word waltz may influence the audience’s preconception of the

content of the poem. The vision of an amazing farther is immediately brought into mind. The title implies a happy and carefree childhood with a father full of life and love for his family.
However, after reading the very first line of the poem, “The whiskey on your breath” (Roethke 978), reviles to the audience a peek into the real childhood of the small boy. The sense of smell of whiskey is the first clue to the audience that the poem is very different than the title suggest. The use of smell in the first line, shatters the fairy tale vision the title of the poem conjures in the mind of the audience. Roethke also includes additional details in the poem that invoke other sense imagery.
To demonstrate the point further, Roethke used the sense of touch in his poem.

“The hand that held my wrist” (Roethke 979), this simple line provides the audience with evidence that the boy was abused by his father. Roethke’s memory of his childhood reflects the love he has for his father despite all of his father’s flaws.

Another poem that use sense imagery is “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen. In this poem Owen describes the hellish life of a solider in World War I. An enveloping scene of the poem give vivid details of the soldiers being attack with poison gas. Owen depicts the horrid sight of a solider dying from the attack. “As under a green sea, I saw him drowning” (Owen 1356), this line gives the audience an undeniable visual of war. The use of sense imagery in Owen’s poem bring the taste of the battlefield, the smell of blood, the sound of bombs and the touch of death.

Sense imagery is the key tool used by authors in bringing the audience on a literary journey. Both Theodore Roethke and Wilford Owen have master the use of sense imagery. The vivid scene of a small boy’s childhood memories are brought to life by the use of sense imagery Roethke injects his poem. Likewise, Owen’s poem depicts a solider in the clutches of war. Furthermore, sense imagery allows authors to bring the audience into their world through their

works.