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

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

“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

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

Line	Annotation
The whiskey on your breath	Suggests the father is intoxicated, setting a potentially unstable tone.
Could make a small boy dizzy;	The child is physically affected by the father’s state, but also drawn to him.
But I hung on like death:	The child clings to the father despite the discomfort, showing a complex emotional bond.
Such waltzing was not easy.	The dance is not graceful, hinting at a rough or chaotic nature.
We romped until the pans	The dance is energetic and disruptive, causing household disarray.
Slid from the kitchen shelf;	The chaos reflects the intensity and lack of control in the situation.
My mother’s countenance	The mother disapproves or is worried, adding another layer of tension.
Could not unfrown itself.	The mother’s concern is deep-seated and persistent.
The hand that held my wrist	Focus shifts to the physical details of the father, his hand marked by labor.
Was battered on one knuckle;	This suggests a life of hardship or fighting, adding to the father’s complexity.
At every step you missed	The waltz is clumsy, potentially mirroring the father’s life or emotional state.
My right ear scraped a buckle.	The child is physically hurt, hinting at the potential for harm in this relationship.
You beat time on my head	The father’s affection is rough, marking a rhythm on the child’s head.
With a palm caked hard by dirt,	The father’s work-worn hand reinforces his rugged image.
Then waltzed me off to bed	The dance ends with the child being put to bed, a return to safety.
Still clinging to your shirt.	Despite the roughhousing, the child remains attached to the father, highlighting the complexity of their bond.

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

Literary Device	Example from the Poem	Explanation
Amplification	“I hung on like death”	Emphasizing the strength of the speaker’s grip on their father’s hand
Assonance	“The whiskey on your breath”	Repetition of vowel sounds (“e” and “e”) for musical effect
Enjambment	“We romped until the pans / Slid from the kitchen shelf”	Sentence or phrase continuing into the next line without punctuation
Hyperbole	“I hung on like death”	Exaggeration for emphasis
Imagery	“The whiskey on your breath”	Vivid description of sensory experience
Irony	“Such waltzing was not easy”	Contrast between the speaker’s words and the actual difficulty of the situation
Metaphor	“The hand that held my wrist / Was battered on one knuckle”	Comparison between two unlike things without “like” or “as”
Personification	“My mother’s countenance / Could not unfrown itself”	Attributing human-like qualities to non-human things
Repetition	“You” and “I” throughout the poem	Repeating words or phrases for emphasis or unity
Rhyme	“dizzy”/”easy”, “shelf”/”itself”	Similar sounds in words, usually at the end of lines
Symbolism	“Whiskey” and “buckle”	Using objects to represent abstract ideas or concepts
Synecdoche	“The hand that held my wrist”	Using a part to represent the whole
Understatement	“Such waltzing was not easy”	Downplaying the difficulty of the situation
Enjambed Simile	“Like death”	Simile that continues into the next line without punctuation
Caesura	Throughout the poem	Pauses within a line, often marked by punctuation
Anaphora	“You beat time on my head / With a palm caked hard by dirt”	Repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive clauses or lines

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

Literary Theory	Description	Application to “My Papa’s Waltz”	References from the Poem
Psychoanalytic Criticism	Explores the unconscious desires and motivations of characters, often through symbolism and imagery.	Examines the complex relationship between the father and son, suggesting a mixture of love, fear, and potential trauma.	“The whiskey on your breath,” “But I hung on like death,” “My right ear scraped a buckle.”
New Criticism	Focuses on the text itself, analyzing its formal elements like structure, language, and imagery to derive meaning.	Emphasizes the poem’s rhythm, rhyme, and sensory details to create a vivid depiction of the waltz and its emotional impact.	“We romped until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf,” “The hand that held my wrist was battered on one knuckle,” “You beat time on my head.”
Feminist Criticism	Examines the portrayal of women and gender roles within the text, often highlighting issues of power and inequality.	Considers the mother’s silent disapproval and her inability to intervene, suggesting her limited power in the family dynamic.	“My mother’s countenance could not unfrown itself.”

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

1. “The Garden of Love” by William Blake: Explores complex relationships and childhood innocence in a symbolic and lyrical way.
2. “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden: Reflects on a difficult childhood relationship with a parent, exploring themes of love and nostalgia.
3. “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath: Examines a tumultuous relationship with a father figure, using vivid imagery and emotional intensity.
4. “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus: Uses metaphor and symbolism to explore themes of family, love, and the American Dream.
5. “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

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

Quote	Context	Theoretical Perspective (in bold)
“The whiskey on your breath / Could make a small boy dizzy;”	The speaker describes his father’s drunkenness and its effect on him.	Freudian Psychoanalysis: The speaker’s fixation on his father’s whiskey breath reveals a deep-seated desire for paternal approval and attention.
“But I hung on like death: / Such waltzing was not easy.”	The speaker clings to his father despite the difficulties of their waltz.	Attachment Theory: The speaker’s intense attachment to his father is evident in his desperate clinging, highlighting their complex bond.
“We romped until the pans / Slid from the kitchen shelf;”	The speaker and his father engage in a vigorous dance, causing chaos in the kitchen.	Chaos Theory: The unpredictable and tumultuous nature of their waltz reflects the chaotic dynamics of their relationship.
“My right ear scraped a buckle. / You beat time on my head”	The speaker’s father accidentally hurts him while dancing, but continues to guide him.	Trauma Theory: The speaker’s willingness to endure physical harm for the sake of their waltz suggests a traumatic attachment to his father.
“Then waltzed me off to bed / Still clinging to your shirt.”	The speaker’s father takes him to bed, with the speaker still holding on tightly.	Object Relations Theory: The speaker’s clinging to his father’s shirt represents a deep-seated need for security and comfort in their relationship.