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

Analyzing Poetic Devices: Robert Hayden's "Those Winter Sundays" and Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz"
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.

Lesson Plan of "My Papa's Waltz"
This thorough lesson plan includes a copy of the poem along with pre-reading, during-reading, and postreading strategies, including vocabulary and jigsaw. Access requires MS-Word or compatible application.

"My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke
Links to three critical commentaries.

Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz"
A reader's response.

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

Theodore Roethke
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.

Theodore Roethke
Timeline of the poet's life.

Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz"
A deconstructionist reading of the poem. This document requires Adobe Acrobat Reader for access.

Writing Poetry like Pros
This extensive set of lessons includes an activity using Theodore Roethke's "The Donkey" in Lesson 1, Group 5.