Poetry can be subject to various interpretations depending on the life experiences of the reader. For example, as recorded in slide two, some people perceive the poem “My Papa’s Waltz” as thus portraying fear and joy, while others consider it a dispassionate wordplay (Fong 79). However, there are constant elements that cannot be misinterpreted within a poem, such as a theme, imagery, and diction that uncovers the secret meaning of the poem. This analysis presents some of the most useful concepts I gathered from slides two, three, and four.
In slide two, Fong introduces the reminisce of Roethke and his father waltzing in the kitchen. In this slide, the author introduces the theme of ignorance, which cannot be disputed because of the actions displayed. But first, I concur with Fong that most readers may judge Roethke’s attitude that he resented his father (79). However, some details indicate otherwise because, in as much as his father shoved him, he clung on him like death.
However, either way, the theme of ignorance is unchanged no matter the circumstance in which it occurred. First, Fong mentions that the speaker’s father was a drunken brute who carelessly hurt the child’s ear and mishandled him (79). This means that during the waltzing, the child incurred injuries that went unnoticed. His father displayed this ignorance because he was unaware that his son was being hurt during romping. It is also not recorded if his mother tried to prevent his father’s actions apart from frowning, which also depicts ignorance.
I found slide three insightful because the imagery depicts an in-depth meaning of the poem. Through imagery, we can perceive how the pans were falling as father and son were romping (Fong 80). Paragraph three illustrates that the speaker was afraid and hurt by his father. He was afraid because his father’s hands were scarred by violence, and he felt helpless and fearful of sharing his pain. Similarly, he was hurt during the game because it is recorded that his father’s belt buckled his ear as his head was also pounded in his palm (Fong 80). This vivid description showcases a high level of ignorance of both parents. Therefore, this stylistic device is used to share the idea behind the poem, which is an act of ignorance.
The diction is carefully used to align with the theme of the poem. Even though Fogg refrains from making conclusions, the diction creates the focal point of the poem. For instance, in slide four, Fong explains that new criticism based on the poem’s complexity, irony, and language has led to two possible interpretations (81). First, the author notes that the readers who see joy downplay the aspect of violence. Second, this signifies that ignorant parenting is detected and acknowledged in the poem.
The name of the poem “My Papa’s Waltz” directly translates to my father’s play, a possessive phrase used to show that his father owned and enjoyed waltzing (Fong 81). His ignorance as a parent made him not realize that his son did not like the dance because he was being hurt in the process. Therefore, considering the child’s experiences throughout the poem, what experience overpowered the other tenderness or brutality? Finally, each slide mentioned has played a role in expanding my knowledge and interpretation of the poem. In each slide, I identified elements that supported the theme expressed as the poem’s focus.
Work Cited
Fong, Bobby. “Roethke’s” My Papa’s Waltz.” College Literature, vol. 17, no 1, 1990, pp.79-88.