Reading a poem on the page is often a different experience from hearing it aloud. Additionally, another layer is added when we hear the poet himself read the poem aloud. You have already posted your first impressions/interpretations of the poem in the discussion above, so briefly summarize your thoughts on the overall meaning of the poem here. Next, answer the following questions.
What were your impressions of Roethke’s poem after hearing him read it aloud? Describe his tone of voice and the emotion that seems to be wrapped up in it. How does hearing the poem influence or change your understanding of the poem, or does hearing him read it aloud simply reinforce your initial impressions? Does it add anything to the experience of the poem itself? Explain and offer examples from the recording to support your responses to the questions.
For hearing-impaired students, you may take part in this bonus discussion through an analysis of context. Read the author’s biography that is in the “Additional Resources” section of the course Content. Look for information on the author that brings a deeper understanding of the poem to your reading, and answer the following questions. Briefly summarize your initial impressions/interpretations of the poem before you knew anything about the author himself. Then, what were your impressions of Roethke’s poem after reading the information about his personal background? Offer some biographical details about Roethke’s life, his father, and the time period in which they lived that might give you a better understanding of the poem. How does this contextual information influence or change your understanding of the poem, or does having this information simply reinforce your initial impressions? Does it add anything to the experience of the poem? Explain and offer examples from the biography to support your responses to the questions.
