How to Read Poetry Aloud

You can read a poem aloud

Poetry reading has unwritten rules, and many of these are basic etiquette. Others have to be learned from watching others or reading about the experience of reading poetry aloud.

If you write poems, you may be asked to read for family and friends. This is good experience; however, family and friends are not critics like a poetry audience might be.

Reading poetry that is not your personal writing is more difficult, and takes even more preparation.

Things You'll Need

• poetry to read
• an interest in learning to read a poem

Instructions

1. Read for practice.

   Read a poem in advance of any public reading, for the purpose of flagging words for meaning or pronunciation.

2. Use the dictionary.

   Look up any words in the poem that you question, so you know the correct pronunciation and any alternative meanings. There may be a discussion that involves these words as they apply to the poem.

3. Think about the poem.

   Interpret the poem on different levels. Poetry is written with layers, and the outer layer is the easiest to understand. There are inner layers in most poems, and if you choose a poem to read, understand it on different levels.

4. Research the author.

   Know something about the author of the poem, so you can discuss the subject intelligently, and how the poetry reflects the author, the era, the social climate.

5. Speak slowly.

   Remember that every word in a poem is important. Reading poetry aloud requires enunciation and a slow pace. Pause after thoughts, so the audience does not have to think fast.

6. Have a stage presence.

   Be natural when reading poetry. Look up, look at the audience, smile if it is appropriate.

7. Do not sing-song.

   Read poetry aloud applying the punctuation as written. Rhyme takes care of itself if the reader follows the sentence structure of the poem. Do not sing-song, but read poetry like you are reading a story.

8. Attend poetry readings with consideration.

   Be considerate of others. When another reader is reading aloud, do not talk or move around, exit early, chew gum, or let your cell phone ring. Give the poetry reader the same courtesy you would for a theatrical production. Learn to read poetry aloud and attend poetry readings or poetry meetings with tact and consideration.

Tips & Warnings

• We often write about writing and poetry. See more articles in Resources below.

• copyright 2009 Linda Richard

• Feel free to link to this article or send it to a friend.

Resources

• Write a Poem
• Write Poetry and Papers: Revision
• Use Correct English Grammar
• Study ESL English Grammar
• Do Creative Writing with a Friend
• Use Pronunciation for Spelling English Words
• Use English Grammar: Wasted Words
• Spell with Spelling Rules and Associations
• Use English Grammar Punctuation
• Apply for a Copyright
• Check the Copyright Laws