The Waking By Theodore Roethke Analysis

Elements give meaning and depth to a topic. In poetry elements are interpreted to give the poem meaning and life. Elements of poetry such as meter and rhyme can create a beating heart or a beating drum, giving the poem meaning and depth. Each poetic element is chosen by the writer to add meaning to the poem, the meaning of the element is left up to the reader to interpret. The Waking, Theodore Roethke uses literary elements to talk about how there is not much one can do about their density so relax and enjoy life.

“I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow” (Roethke 1). is mentioned multiple times throughout the poem. Waking is life and sleep is death, thus he means I live to die and take my life slow. This portrays how many people live their lives; they are always looking into the future instead of living for right now and the problem with looking into the future is eventually death is going to be the only thing in the future. Roethke uses diction in“ I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow” as a paradox to slow the complex of life. Waking and sleeping are two opposite but Roethke gives them a similar meaning to show life and death aren’t that different; many people may be alive but are they really living or are they just sleeping? Thus showing the irony of life. The …show more content…
This is the only line in the poem to use enjambment, because Roethke wants there to be no pause between this line and the next. “To you and me; so take the lively air” (Roethke 14), this refers to occurring theme of instead of not trying to change fate and fearing what one doesn’t know take fate. Instead of being afraid one should embrace the unknown and enjoy life and its journey. “And, lovely, learn by going where to go” (Roethke 15), wherever fate may take one learn and grow from