Poems are meant to be read aloud so that people can actually feel and understand the emotions behind them. Every once in a while, we see poets delivering their poems in public. Among the most significant poetry reading in history was that of the late Maya Angelou during the Inauguration of former US President Clinton. However, we rarely see poets reading or interpreting poetry these days. Yet, this task is still given to individuals who can read poems out loud and convey the right emotions.

If you are given the task to do poetry interpretation, you have to realize that it is not just about reading the poem. There is a lot more to it. Thus, you have to prepare well so your interpretation will be felt by the listeners. Today’s post discusses some of the best tips to help you do a stellar job at delivering the poetry reading in the most authentic way possible!

Tips for Interpreting Poetry

Read it Silently First

Try to understand the speaker of the poem. Is it a boy or a girl? Is it a husband talking to his wife or a mother talking to his children? You need to understand who exactly delivers the poem and find the “voice” that you need to bring out a heartfelt delivery. Once you understand where the poet comes from and to whom the poem is addressed, it’s easier to tackle the task of interpreting poetry.

Get Behind the Metaphors and Symbolisms

When interpreting poetry, you need to unlock the meaning of these terms. By then, it will be easier for you to understand exactly what it is that the poem suggests to the listeners. Make sure that you convey the right emotion for these metaphors for the listeners to easily understand what the poem is all about.

Be Aware of the Rhythm and Meter

They vary from one poem to another. Some poems are freestyle and don’t have any of these qualities. Thus, the way you interpret the poems must be based on the suggested rhythm.

Don’t be Monotonous

If you will just deliver the poem as if you are reading an ordinary article, then it would be better for the listeners to just read the poem silently. You were given the chance to deliver it to them orally, so you have to make the most out of it. Vary your voice depending on the emotion and the character speaking.

Provide Personal Insights at the End of the Poem if You’re Allowed

This will allow you to share your personal understanding of the poem and on how it speaks to you. By then, the listeners may be able to relate to your reflection or make contradictions. Either way, you make them more engaged to the poem you have just interpreted.

There are a lot of instances in which poem interpretation is done. Though it is not as popular today as it was before, still learning how to interpret it is very useful. You might be invited to join formal gatherings where poetry interpretation is required. You might also show interest in joining a poetry or literature club. Thus, it helps a lot if you know about poetry interpretation.

Seldean Smith

Seldean is a multi-skilled content wizard that dedicates herself to writing content that goes beyond merely sparking interest in the audience.