Reading poetry aloud - tips

[kenikki]

I am will be studying poetry in the near future as part of my English degree and feel that I am still very uncomfortable reading poetry aloud.
Part of the module is to remember and recite a poem.
I either read too fast or the poem does not flow well when I read.
I would like to brush up on these skills before entering my degree again.
Thanks

[ktd222]

You know I remember hearing some pretty popular poets reciting their poetry on audios over the internet. I think poets.org has audios of poets reciting their poetry...you could start there.

[aemy]

Hi Kenniki:

Standing up in front of an audience and reciting ANYthing makes most people nervous ... so bravo for choosing the course, first of all.

Tips:

o Pick a poem you really like

o sonnets are often helpful because a) they're short -14 lines - but usually not simplistic; and b) their structure and rhyme scheme can help you to remember them.

o I can remember being advised to focus mentally on the work (here, the poem), and not so much on the audience. (This can be esp. helpful if a sea of faces makes you nervous.)

Just a few thoughts ... random.

Good luck.

[barbara0207]

You know I remember hearing some pretty popular poets reciting their poetry on audios over the internet. I think poets.org has audios of poets reciting their poetry...you could start there.

Hmm, I don't know whether that is really such a good idea ...:) I haven't checked your link yet, but from my experience most writers or poets are very good at writing, but not necessarily at reading or reciting. That is why one should go for actors reciting poetry. (It's their job, they've learned all about it.)

Kenikki, if you have to recite a poem, you should try to get the "feel" of it first. Then mark the words or syllables you want to stress in order to convey the meaning and where to put in a pause for greater effect. After that, force yourself to read the poem as slowly as possible, stressing the words you marked. Then memorize the poem and practise as often as you can, in front of a mirror, if possible (to check gestures and facial expression). And/or recite it to a friend. You can also make a recording if there's nobody available to listen to you.

Reciting poems on stage is one of my hobbies. Feel free to ask further questions. :D

[ktd222]

Hmm, I don't know whether that is really such a good idea ...:) I haven't checked your link yet, but from my experience most writers or poets are very good at writing, but not necessarily at reading or reciting. That is why one should go for actors reciting poetry. (It's their job, they've learned all about it.)

I disagree with you. Who knows what they are creating better than the creator. An actor can help illustrate a writing, that’s if he/she knows fully what the creator is trying to achieve with a piece of work. Actors are not poets, or writers, and therefore would not know more intimately about line breaks, stressed/unstressed syllables, tone, etc, of a poem than the creator.