Poetry recitation is, in many ways, different from other literary performances. You know that poetry’s special features like rhythm, rhyme, sound pattern, necessary images, variety of intonation pattern and other basic aspects work in special ways.
These features make poetry different from other genres. When you are reciting a poem, you have to consider all of these features along with some other essential components. Let’s discuss some selected issues of poetry recitation.
1. Understanding the Poem
To recite a poem, understanding the theme of that poem is essential. Otherwise, it will be similar to swim in water with hands and feet tied. This is the very first thing you should do while going to recite a poem. Take the script in your hand. Read (not recite) the poem. Try to understand the subject/theme of the poem.
If you need, discuss with your classmates, friends, teachers or other persons who know the poem. If you can understand the poem, you will reach the very inner point of the text. It will make your next journey for reciting the poem easy and smooth.
2. Memorizing the Poem
After you have understood the theme of the poem, memorize the text of the poem. This is because when you are reciting a poem, you are actually doing it by creating a world of your own where no external devices will get entrance.
The script of the text of the poem is an external device which will create hindrance to the smooth delivery of your recitation. So, memorize the text perfectly.
3. Ensuring Correct Pronunciation
Perhaps, you will agree that ensuring correct pronunciation is very important in any verbal communication. Correct pronunciation is not only a linguistic prerequisite, it is also an art.
So, maintaining correct pronunciation will not only ensure linguistic demands, but also, it will increase aesthetic value and ensure to be adherent to it.
4. Maintaining Body Language
Reciting a poem is nothing but a balanced performance. What type of balance? Balance between textual language and body language. You are reciting a poem. You have to present the language and all linguistic devices mixed your emotions meticulously.
At the same time, the language of your eyes, hands and other parts of your body should be expressed in such a way that your body language supports the language of the poem you are reciting. That means, through your body language, the audience will feel the subject and emotion of the poem, though to ensure this skill is very difficult and demands rigorous practice.
5. Making Connection with the Images
You know that in a poem, there are lots of images. The poet uses related mental pictures to externalize her feelings, desire and emotion. In fact, without using image or mental picture, a poet cannot ensure the aesthetic beauty of the poem. Each and every image talks in favour of the subject of the poem.
When you recite a poem, you actually make the images used in the poem visible to the audience. You have to recite the poem in such a way that the audience can see the images of the poem in front of their eyes. You have to use special emotion, correct pronunciation and real intonation pattern to create this environment.
6. Maintaining the Tone of the Poem
A poem may be laden with multiple layers of tone. It may produce anger, sadness, agony, happiness, confidence, sympathy, boldness, strong will power etc. Generally, a poem generates a specific tone. For example: In the poem “The Sands of Dee” we can feel the tone of agony, sense of loss and pain.
As you are reciting the poem, you have to do something so that the audience can feel the tone of sadness, can experience the same feeling of pain and emptiness. To do so, you have to maintain the pattern of intonation, pitch, up and down of your voice according to the poem.
You will control your emotion, but the audience will be emotional through your recitation. Otherwise, Recitation and reading out will be the same.
