The Waking (poem)
Encyclopedia
The Waking is a poem written by Theodore Roethke
in 1953 in the form of a villanelle
. It is a self-reflexive poem that describes waking up from sleep. It comments on the unknowable with a contemplative tone. It also has been interpreted as comparing life to sleep.
Theodore Roethke
Theodore Roethke was an American poet, who published several volumes of poetry characterized by its rhythm, rhyming, and natural imagery. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1954 for his book, The Waking.-Biography:...
in 1953 in the form of a villanelle
Villanelle
A villanelle is a poetic form that entered English-language poetry in the 19th century from the imitation of French models. The word derives from the Italian villanella from Latin villanus . A villanelle has only two rhyme sounds...
. It is a self-reflexive poem that describes waking up from sleep. It comments on the unknowable with a contemplative tone. It also has been interpreted as comparing life to sleep.
Use in popular culture
- The poem appears as an object in Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-FiveSlaughterhouse-FiveSlaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death is a satirical novel by Kurt Vonnegut about World War II experiences and journeys through time of a soldier called Billy Pilgrim...
. - An excerpt of the poem also appears at the beginning of Dean Koontz's novel Odd HoursOdd HoursOdd Hours is the fourth novel in the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz. It was released on May 20, 2008.-Plot summary:The story begins with Odd finding a woman who featured prominently in his dream, a young, pregnant woman who calls herself Annamaria. After being assaulted and nearly killed by a...
. - Kurt Elling sings the poem on his 2007 album NightmovesNightmoves (album)Nightmoves is a 2007 jazz album by vocalist Kurt Elling. It was the first Elling album to be released by Concord Records. - Track listing :# "Nightmoves" - 4:23# "Tight" - 2:55...
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