Roethke, Theodore

born May 25, 1908, Saginaw, Mich., U.S.

died Aug. 1, 1963, Bainbridge Island, Wash.

U.S. poet.

He was educated at the University of Michigan and Harvard University. He later taught at several colleges and universities, notably the University of Washington (1947–63). His verse, characterized by introspection and intense lyricism, is collected in volumes such as Open House (1941), The Waking (1953, Pulitzer Prize), Words for the Wind (1957, Bollingen Prize, National Book Award), and The Far Field (1964, National Book Award). His later career was interrupted by hospitalizations for manic depression.

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▪ American poet

in full  Theodore Huebner Roethke 

born May 25, 1908, Saginaw, Mich., U.S.

died Aug. 1, 1963, Bainbridge Island, Wash.

      American poet whose verse is characterized by introspection and intense lyricism.

      Roethke was educated at the University of Michigan and Harvard University. He taught at several colleges and universities, notably the University of Washington. His later career was interrupted by hospitalizations for manic depression.

      His first book of poetry, Open House, which W.H. Auden (Auden, W H) called “completely successful,” was published in 1941. It was followed by The Lost Son and Other Poems (1948) and Praise to the End! (1951). The Waking: Poems 1933–1953 (1953) was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for poetry; Words for the Wind (1957) won a Bollingen Prize and a National Book Award (National Book Awards). Roethke won a second National Book Award for The Far Field (1964). His collected poems were published in 1966. His essays and lectures are collected in his On the Poet and His Craft (1965).

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