1. Topic-
"My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke
 
2. Content-
"My Papa's Waltz" a poem by Theodore Roethke which has remained one of the most controversial and debatable pieces of poetic literature to have ever been created.
 
3. Goals: Aims/Outcomes-
1. The student will have read through "My Papa's Waltz" aloud with myself several times.
2. The student will break down the poem stanza by stanza so as to understand the poem's complexity.
3. The student will develop a personal opinion on the poem's meaning and significance based on our explication of it.
4. The student will recognize a common theme in the poem and be able to talk about it effectively.
 
4. Objectives-
1. The student will be able to read clearly and thoroughly "My Papa's Waltz."
2. The student will be able to describe out loud to the rest of the class and/or the professor the significance, theme and meaning of this poem in his/her own words.
 
5. Materials and Aids-
Handout of "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke.
 
6. Procedures/Methods-

A. Introduction-

1. Ask the student of his/her experience with this particular poem and poetry in general.
2. Introduce the poem to the student.
3. Discuss the controversy that has been produced by the unclear meaning of the poem.
 

B. Development-

1. Have the student read the poem out loud with myself.
2. Have the student read the poem silently.
3. Ask the student his/her initial reaction to this poem.
 

C. Practice-

1. Take each stanza separately and explicate with the student so that the student can see the little details behind the poem.
 

D. Checking for understanding-

1. Ask the student of any of his/her questions on the subject.
2. Have the student write a small summary of his/her collected opinion on the theme and significance of this poem.
 

G. Closure-

1. Have the student be ready to share what he/she learned from the poem and what he/she wrote down in their summary.
 

This Lesson Plan is available at (www.teacherjet.com)