Poetry: Imagery, Tone, Structure, and Perspective

Understanding the Speaker, the Poet, and Perspective

In poetry, the poet is the real-life author who composed the written text of the poem. In contrast, the speaker is the voice that presents the poem. It is vital to remember that the speaker may or may not resemble the poet. A poet can deliberately create a speaker whose age, gender, background, or values differ completely from their own. For this reason, readers should not automatically assume the speaker is the poet, but must instead use clues in the poem to understand the speaker's perspective.

To determine the speaker's perspective, examine their point of view, knowledge limits, personal biases, and worldview. A first-person speaker uses words such as 'I,' 'me,' and 'my' to present a perspective from within the poem. This point of view gives the reader direct access to personal observations. Alternatively, a third-person speaker uses words such as 'he,' 'she,' or 'they' to describe people or events, and this voice may also reveal a character's thoughts.

In some poems, the writer employs a specific structure known as a dramatic monologue. In a dramatic monologue, one speaker addresses a listener whose reply is not heard. As the speaker talks, their speech reveals key aspects of their character, background, and personal values. Recognizing this one-sided address helps readers evaluate the speaker's biases and unique outlook on the world.