My Papa's Waltz Literary Devices

“The happy family is a myth for many.” Carolyn Spring. In “My Papa’s Waltz”, it may sound like a loving father and daughter dancing around the kitchen at first. But in reality, the author uses a lot of word choices that show there is an underlying theme to the poem. Violent words and phrases fill the poem in subtle ways to prove that some kids do fear their alcoholic parents. The first lines of the poem are “The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy,” indicating that the father has been drinking. There is no indication that the father is being violent, but drunkenness can often lead to violence. “But I hung on like death, Such waltzing was not easy.” This is a simile showing how the girl is comparing the dance to death. She is not simply talking about waltzing with her father. She is talking about living with him. The girl has to hang on like death. Using this diction helps show an underlying motive for this poem. Living with violent parents can scar children. When the author states “At every step you missed, My right ear scraped a buckle,” it reminds the audience how belt buckles are often used for punishment in family. The line at every step you missed,” shows that the father may not be trying to hurt his daughter, but in reality he …show more content…
That I am a dumb, old man, and that I should maybe teach at an elementary school. I have also heard that you have told colleagues that I am “as nutty as a fruitcake.” Have you not? This behavior is extremely unprofessional and inappropriate! If you would like to have a discussion in private to talk about our different portrayals, maybe we can understand one another. If you are saying there can only be one understanding, sir, then I am afraid maybe you need to be the one teaching grade school. A professor with ANY common sense knows that we all may interpret and poem differently, and that is what makes it beautiful