Theodore Roethke
"My Papa's Waltz" and other poems

Students will study both the content and the form of these two poems, closely analyzing how each poem's use of poetic devices helps to convey and emphasize the poem's meaning.

Brief biography and links to some poems, including an audio file of "My Papa's Waltz."

Biography, links to text and audio files of more than 30 poems.

Links to "Epidermal Macabre," "The Geranium," "Journey into the Interior," "In a Dark Time," "The Waking," "I Knew a Woman," "The Reckoning," "Night Journey," "My Papa's Waltz," "Elegy for Jane," and "The Far Field." Follow links to biography and related links.

A deconstructionist interpretation of the poem. This document requires Adobe Reader for access.

This extensive set of lessons includes an activity using Theodore Roethke's "The Donkey".