How can an atmosphere be so unbearable and cold, but evidently full of life and constant growth? Set in an old, decaying basement, Theodore Roethke addresses this in the poem “Root Cellar.” Life is clinging to and climbing over the dirty, damp, and dark possessions of the cellar. Why is it possible that so much life is present in such a place of shadows? It is sometimes difficult to understand the phenomena’s of the natural world. In “Root Cellar”, Roethke uses imagery, diction, and tone to display that it is possible for life to overcome unbearable circumstances, suggesting that nature is a truly dominant and powerful force.
First, Roethke uses a variety of natural imagery to illustrate the poor conditions of the root cellar. The imagery …show more content…
The way the plants “dangled” (3) and hung “lolling obscenely” (4) like they are relaxed and feel free to do as they please parallels the ambiance of such a festival. Bulbs “broke out of boxes hunting” (2), like they are searching for or seeking out pleasure. The line “Nothing would sleep” (1) also displays a parallel with the festival because the plants are constantly alive and participating in the experience. By refusing to “give up life” (10), they are refusing to give up the pleasure they feel within the root cellar; it can serve as a personal escape, just as the Bacchanalia would. This refusal to give up and just keep breathing demonstrates the strength of nature once again. Strength allows them to not stop “living”, or give up their ability to flourish in the …show more content…
The feelings one may acquire from the root cellar suggest it is somewhere they would not like to visit. The unwelcoming tone emphasizes the difference between human life and the plant world. Although the poem may seem dark and gloomy, life in the root cellar is actually joyfully expanding. Only once the root cellar’s displeasing tone is created and thoroughly described can the potential of nature’s power be illustrated. By creating all these negative images and disgusting smells however, the reader does not see what the life could possibly be. Upon returning to the poem, all the combined aspects of the poem reveal some sort of plant life developing. Right from the first line, “Nothing would sleep in that cellar” (1), the presence of life is evident. All the various forms of plant life in the cellar show that nature is continuing to grow and transform despite the fact that there is not substantial conditions for humans. The power of nature is able to overcome these conditions and actually find joy and pleasure from the
First, Roethke uses a variety of natural imagery to illustrate the poor conditions of the root cellar. The imagery …show more content…
The way the plants “dangled” (3) and hung “lolling obscenely” (4) like they are relaxed and feel free to do as they please parallels the ambiance of such a festival. Bulbs “broke out of boxes hunting” (2), like they are searching for or seeking out pleasure. The line “Nothing would sleep” (1) also displays a parallel with the festival because the plants are constantly alive and participating in the experience. By refusing to “give up life” (10), they are refusing to give up the pleasure they feel within the root cellar; it can serve as a personal escape, just as the Bacchanalia would. This refusal to give up and just keep breathing demonstrates the strength of nature once again. Strength allows them to not stop “living”, or give up their ability to flourish in the …show more content…
The feelings one may acquire from the root cellar suggest it is somewhere they would not like to visit. The unwelcoming tone emphasizes the difference between human life and the plant world. Although the poem may seem dark and gloomy, life in the root cellar is actually joyfully expanding. Only once the root cellar’s displeasing tone is created and thoroughly described can the potential of nature’s power be illustrated. By creating all these negative images and disgusting smells however, the reader does not see what the life could possibly be. Upon returning to the poem, all the combined aspects of the poem reveal some sort of plant life developing. Right from the first line, “Nothing would sleep in that cellar” (1), the presence of life is evident. All the various forms of plant life in the cellar show that nature is continuing to grow and transform despite the fact that there is not substantial conditions for humans. The power of nature is able to overcome these conditions and actually find joy and pleasure from the