Root Cellar Poem Summary

In the famous poem, Root Cellar, author Theodore Roethke uses immensely visual and sensory images. “It is a tangled multiplicity of the senses, including rank smells that differentiates Roethke from most other poets of his time or indeed ours (Paglia). Through the intense descriptions in this poem, the reader not only experiences the sights and smells of going down into the cellar, but also develops an awareness of the root cellar’s contents and their connotations in the poem. Roethke’s use of imagery, language, and tone in “Root Cellar” reveal his optimistic perspective on the theme of survival. The imagery in “Root Cellar” arouses the senses, and gives the reader a vivid mental representation. Every line has one or two exquisite images that …show more content…
Although Roethke’s use of the words “obscenely” (4), “mildewed” (4), and “dank” (1) have very negative connotations and could indicate a clearly negative tone in the poem, other details point to optimism. In fact, just the inclusion of an alliteration in “Root Cellar” points to optimism because it brings life to the poem. The repeated consonant sounds of “d,” “b,” and “r,” in the beginning of the poem, emphasizing the roots as they shoot out from everywhere, deliver rhythm and convey a sense of resurgence (Southworth). Additionally, the last two lines, “Nothing would give up life. / Even the dirt kept breathing a small breath” (10, 11), reveal optimism by contributing to a deeper meaning, and also tie in why all the details are so important to the poem. Now, the reader finally understands why it was so important to get the smells of mold and decay, and the sight of shoots and stems, bulbs and roots fighting for life in a dark, damp cellar. From these last two lines, the reader can determine Roethke’s wonder of the plants determination to survive and generate new life thereby indicating his optimistic