Selected Poems of Theodore Roethke

Paper Summary:

This paper provides reactions to four of Roethke's poems: "Dolor", "My Papa's Waltz", "The Thing", and "A Walk in Late Summer". The paper describes Roethke's poetry as a pleasant, simple read for the casual reader. On the surface it is not complex and the language is easily accessible. However, the surface impressions of his poetry often give way to a deeper meaning when read more closely. The paper suggests that the beauty of Roethke's poetry is that it lends itself to reader interpretation and that the poet does not force an interpretation upon those who would seek to understand it.

From the Paper:

"Theodore Roethke's poetry has is deceptively unsophisticated, as it deals with everyday matters: pencils, the narrator dancing with his father, a picnic, things seen on a walk. This apparent lack of sophistication is what keeps Roethke's poetry accessible to many readers, but as the reader probes beyond the simple surface of the poetry other, deeper meanings become apparent. Dolor Roethke tells us that this emotion is the theme of the poem, simply by its title, which means "grief." On the surface of this poem, the ordered and apparently sterile atmosphere of this setting causes the grief indicated in the title. This setting, which could be any institution from an office to a hospital, or perhaps even a university, possesses no soul."

More papers on Selected Poems of Theodore Roethke:

• Poem Review # 120205 : "Poetry Without Passion"
• Analytical Essay # 7668 : "Selected Poems of Robert Frost"
• Analytical Essay # 120587 : "Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz"

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