My Papa's Waltz Explication 9.1

           Emotions war in “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke. The speaker is a boy, torn between anxiety and happiness. The war is illustrated in the rhyme scheme. ABAB encompasses the poems, lending it a song-like cadence. This corresponds with the rough Waltz father and son preform. It also shows the back-and-forth motion of the boy’s sentiments and thoughts. Clearly, there is love for the dirty man, as the narrator clings to him. Equally evident is his fear of the father’s scraping buckles.

                The scene pictured in lines five a six are wild.

We romped until the pans   

Slid from the kitchen shelf;   

Destruction of their household begins to take place. The walls are shaking and the items attached to them are falling. This symbolism is potent as a reminder that not all is well. This reckless demolition is caused by a waltz. Dances are usually part of art and beauty, but in this kitchen it brings an unpleasant change. The inner battle continues with the vision of his disapproving mother. The speaker is torn between his wildly waltzing Papa and his disappointed Mamma. Trying to decide who to side with creates a fraction within the boy, firing the internal struggle.