Considering and Analyzing the Denotative and Connotative Meanings in "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke

The definition of the word "waltz" in the Webster 's Dictionary denotes it to being a "a ballroom dance, in moderately fast triple meter, in which the dancers revolve in perpetual circles, taking one step to each beat." With this denotation or dictionary meaning of the word, the reader instinctively assumes that Theodore Roethke 's poem solely focuses on a father 's dance with his son. However, as we have seen, connotations provide the reader with overtones of meanings that go beyond what it expresses. The rhythm of this poem is, for the most part, that of iambic trimeter with stresses at the end of lines such as "dizzy" (line 4) and "easy" (line 2) and "pans" (line 5) and "countenance" (line7) make the reader sway to back and forth with - similar to that of a waltz. Rhythm and rhyme are used throughout the poem provides a subtle beat which enables the reader to believe he is dancing. The poet communicates the connotation of the title by manipulating our emotional response to the poem through a number of literary conventions, some of which play on the conventions of a waltz. The word choice indicates that this poem is far from a friendly dance but a more sinister aspect of this waltz which unveils an unsettling emotion under the surface of this poem. Imagery is used by the speaker to contrast fear-provoking images with reassuring ones. The connotative meanings of the title are apparent through these devices.

The reader may presume that the speaker in "My Papa 's Waltz" is a child or a man reminiscing about his youth through the simple level of vocabulary used. "Could not unfrown itself", unfrown is a fabricated term nonexistent in the English language, thus it is clear that the speaker 's lexicon is far from sophisticated (line 8). In line 4 the wording of this point is naive and ill-defined demonstrating the poor vocabulary characteristic of an adolescent "Such waltzing was not easy". Additionally, the waltz is traditionally known for being a "smooth progressive dance characterized by...flowing movements" in which "dancers glide around the floor almost effortlessly" (Librero). However, this is certainly not the case in My Papa 's Waltz as the speaker describes "such waltzing was not easy" implying that the father was somehow making the waltz uneasy. From the first two line of the poem, the reader acknowledges that this waltz is not amicable and enjoyable as it may seem, "The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy". The father 's inebriety accounts for when they "We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf;" (line 5-6). This drunkenness is central in the poem for ultimately accounts for the displeasure of the child. "But I hung on like death :"( line 3). Here, the word death is carefully placed by the speaker to figuratively interrupt the reader 's visual of the waltz. The words "hung" and "death" are both attention-grabbing words placed to emphasis the father 's foul behavior and attitude towards the child. The poet does to enable the reader to visualize and experience the intensity felt by the speaker.

The denotative meaning of the title: a pleasant waltz between a father and son can be viewed differently when the imagery is analyzed. The initial image the reader envisions is that of a young boy carelessly being waltzed around cleaving onto his father in a humorous manner. However, at the beginning of the third stanza a different picture is painted in the minds of the reader, "The hand that held my wrist was battered on one knuckle;" (Lines 9 & 10). As the speaker recounts his waltz, the way the child 's wrist was held by a hand as opposed to his hand holding his father 's creates a hostile and violent impression of the dance - this may also imply that the child is waltzing involuntarily. Secondly, at the beginning of the last stanza, the speaker vividly describes the unsanitary and hard hand of the father, "with a palm caked hard by dirt" (line14). What makes Roethke 's poem so difficult to decipher and interpret is the last line which leaves the reader in loophole. "Then waltzed me off to bed" (line 15). By regarding this waltz as a figure of speech another connotation to the title may be deduced. This interpretation would view the waltz as a symbol representing the father putting the child to sleep. As the poem illustrates, the first half of the waltz is difficult - it is hard to fall asleep at first - but as time progresses the waltz becomes relaxed and easy.

In "My Papa 's Waltz" as in poems alike, understanding the denotative and connotative meanings attached to the language provides the reader with a richer understanding of the poet 's intention.

Works Cited List:

Librero, Blancho & Emilio. "Waltz." Waltz. 29 Aug 2006

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Cited: List: Librero, Blancho & Emilio. "Waltz." Waltz. 29 Aug 2006 .