Speaker & Audience in Poem

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Choose 1-2 words to describe the poem.

Be ready to discuss/defend your word choice. (Have evidence to back up your answer)

SPEAKER AND AUDIENCE IN POETRY

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• The persona of the narrator of the poem.

  • Sometimes this is the poet, but sometimes the narrator is a created character.

Speaker

• The real person who wrote the poem.

Poet

POET vs. SPEAKER

AUDIENCE

• The Group a piece of writing is intended for.

  • Sometimes in poetry, this can be an inanimate object or something not present.

  • Usually these poems personify the object and speak directly to it, like a letter would.

• Sometimes, you may need to infer the meaning.

  • A READER MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE INTENDED AUDIENCE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T LEARN FROM IT.

Purpose

• The reason behind a poem.

  • Sometimes a reason needs to be inferred

  • Sometimes even a poet may not be sure of the purpose, so a reader brings in their own understanding.

Match

Match the following terms:

(USE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION FOR THE ONE TERM WE DID NOT COVER)

• AUDIENCE

• READER

• SPEAKER

• POET

• PURPOSE

Who poem is intended to be read by

Who is currently hearing a poem

Who is narrating the poem

Who wrote the poem

Why the poem was written

• Who poem is intended to be read by

• Who is currently hearing a poem

• Who is narrating the poem

• Who wrote the poem

• Why the poem was written

WHAT IS CONTEXT?

• Tells when and why a poem was written.

• Sometimes, we need history for the poem to work well. Other times, a poem stands on its own with universal meaning.

1. The History of the Poem

• Info that explains allusions and literal meaning of language.

• This can help you understand the figurative significance as well.

2. Helpful background information

Categorize

Options (3)

Bible Defense of Slavery

On Being Brought From America To Africa

won't you celebrate me?

Arrange these poems based on whether it's necessary to know the historical context of the poem or if it can stand on its own.

Needs Historical Context

Has Universal Meaning

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