'Forms of Expression of Children's Love in My Papa's Waltz: A New Criticism Approach'

Abstract

The research objective is to identify in depth the forms of expression of a child's affection towards his father in Theodore Roethke's poem My Papa's Waltz using New Criticism theory. A descriptive qualitative method is used to analyze the data. The technique used for data collection is library research. Meanwhile, the data is analyzed qualitatively after reading the poem and identifying the expressions of a child's affection toward his father. The researcher identifies several elements that convey this affection. The first is the imagery of violence as a metaphor for love, along with the poetical structure and tone of sound in the poem, as well as the use of metaphors and personification within its figurative language. Based on this analysis, it is concluded that Roethke portrays a child's affection as a complex and nuanced emotion, expressed through symbols of violence that reveal the inner conflict between love and fear. This study enhances the researcher’s understanding and knowledge of New Criticism theory. It is expected to be significant for future researchers conducting literary studies focused on the intrinsic elements of texts, such as language, imagery, and structure, without involving external context, in poems like My Papa's Waltz by Theodore Roethke.