The line as a rhythmic unit in the poetry of Theodore Roethke∗

Theodore Roethke (1908‐ ), Pulitzer prize winner in 1953 and the recipient of numerous other awards, including two Guggenheim fellowships, is an important contemporary poet, whose works have been the subject of numerous critical articles. In his own critical writings and in recorded interviews he shows the deep concern with elements of rhythm which is characteristic of the majority of the twentieth century poet‐critics. This study, which deals with a small segment of the broad area of rhythmic devices and complexes, is an attempt to illustrate from some of Mr. Roethke's poems how this segment functions within a total poem when it is read aloud. At present Mr. Roethke is Professor of English, University of Washington.

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size

Notes

Theodore Roethke (1908‐ ), Pulitzer prize winner in 1953 and the recipient of numerous other awards, including two Guggenheim fellowships, is an important contemporary poet, whose works have been the subject of numerous critical articles. In his own critical writings and in recorded interviews he shows the deep concern with elements of rhythm which is characteristic of the majority of the twentieth century poet‐critics. This study, which deals with a small segment of the broad area of rhythmic devices and complexes, is an attempt to illustrate from some of Mr. Roethke's poems how this segment functions within a total poem when it is read aloud. At present Mr. Roethke is Professor of English, University of Washington.