Declaiming a poem means communicating how a certain poem is able to leverage personal emotions, in order to place its interpretation alongside the author's voice (if the verses were not written by those who declaim them). Below you will find instructions relating to different steps, useful for understanding how to interpret a poem, from choosing the most suitable style for the composition, to the methods by which to keep calm on stage.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare Early
Step 1. Know the rules of the exhibition
If you participate in a "poetry slam" in the context of your class or compete in a poetry contest, you should carefully read all the rules. You may be asked to choose a poem or poems related to a certain period of time, or a poem related to a certain topic. Often, it is required to declaim the poem within set times.
Step 2. Choose a poem you like
Declaiming a poem allows you to show the public how a certain composition is able to leverage the emotions and thoughts of the person who plays it. Try to find a poem that appeals to you in a particular way and that you want to share with other people. Unless you're attending a poetry performance with a specific theme, you can choose any type of poem: frivolous, dramatic, serious, or simple. Don't take a famous or important poem if you don't like it. Any kind of poem can be declaimed.
- If you don't like any of the poems you know, browse a few collections of poems in the library, or search online for poems on a topic that interests you.
- If you prefer to write your own essay, you can read the advice provided by the article How to Write a Poem.
- If you've rewritten a poetry contest, read the rules to see if you will be judged on the poem you've chosen. In some competitions, more points can be earned when the chosen poem features complex ideas, emotional nuances and variations in style.
Step 3. Learn to say and understand all difficult words
If you are not sure how to pronounce all the words in the text, find a video of the poem to interpret and listen to it carefully. You can also enter "how to pronounce _" in the search bar and usually find a written explanation or video. Look for the definition of words if you are not 100% sure of their meaning. Poets often refer to the multiple meanings possessed by words, so by learning a new definition, you may acquire a new interpretation of an entire verse.
If the poem was written in a non-standard language, or more than 100 years ago, many of the words will be pronounced differently than the phonetic rules found in a modern pronunciation guide. Try to find a video of this poem or about other poems by the same author
Step 4. Listen to videos or audio recordings of people reading poetry (optional)
It doesn't matter if they are videos of famous actors reciting Leopardi or of ordinary people recording their own poems. This system is useful if the composition declaimed in the video is the one you have chosen or if it has a similar style (strong and dramatic, realistic and descriptive, etc.). If you like a performance, you should be able to figure it out in a minute or two. Keep searching until you find someone you like and try to study how they interpret the poem. Think about why you like it and write down the answer so you can keep in mind the example the video offers.
- Do you like poems read slowly and forcefully or do you prefer when the voice speeds up and slows down to emphasize different moods?
- Do you like artists who exaggerate their tone of voice and dramatic gesture or those who seem more natural and realistic?
- Understanding these things is especially helpful if you are looking to improve your performance when interpreting a poem. By listening to the people you admire in this area, you will learn to improve.
Step 5. Take notes directly on the poetic text to highlight the reading in the different passages
Print or write at least one copy of the essay. By writing notes on the text, you will understand when to pause, slow down, express a gesture or change the tone of your voice. It involves putting notes next to the verses useful for oral exposition and, therefore, it will probably be necessary to try different styles before finding the one you like. Think about how you could best interpret the verses, then read them aloud to see if you are right.
- If you've heard other examples of poetry, you should have some idea of speed, pauses, or variations in tone of voice.
- There is no single way to write these notes. Use symbols or words that make sense to you or highlight words you want to emphasize more.
- Think about what matches the poem. A dramatic poem can be performed with large gestures and huge changes in facial expressions. A poem that describes the peaceful scenery of a meadow should be read slowly, in a calm voice.
Step 6. Practice reading the poem slower than you want
When you are in front of a crowd, it is easy for your nerves and adrenaline to speed you up. Even if it is a poem that you would like to read quickly, train yourself to start rather slowly, then speed up as the tension builds up (more rarely a poem starts brightly and then calms down, but in this case you can learn to slow down instead.). Pause where they look most natural so that the interpretation is fluid.
- Don't pause at the end of each verse unless you think it's really necessary. If your chosen poem has punctuation, assign longer rests at the end of sentences and shorter rests where commas, parentheses, and other punctuation marks appear.
- Calculate the time if there is a limit to the duration of the performance. In general, reciting a poem takes only a few minutes. If it is too long, try to extrapolate one or two lines from the text, which make sense taken separately, or choose a different poem. Do not read quickly so as not to exceed the established time limits; it will not be a welcome thing.
Step 7. Focus on the words rather than the acting
Even a poem that features some dramatic action should be based mostly on what it says, not so much on the gestures and voices it contains. You can put more emphasis than normal if you feel it fits the style of the essay, but don't distract people from the true meaning of the words.
- Try to pronounce each word clearly. Do not "eat" the end of the sentence, making it unclear or truncating it entirely.
- If you are not sure which gestures are most appropriate, relax your arms up to the elbows and place one hand on top of the other in front of you. From this position you can make small gestures, which will look natural, or stay in that position without looking too stiff.
- It doesn't matter if you break this rule from time to time. If you're reciting lines in front of some guys, this audience likes it when the movements and tonalities are over the top. Some experimental poems may teach you to make nonsense noises or represent other unusual actions during the performance.
Step 8. Get lots of practice
Once you have decided on the pauses and the gestures to do, you will still have to practice many times if you want to give your best. Try to memorize the poem, even if it is not mandatory, however the result will be safer and more natural when you are not reading a sheet of paper.
- Practicing in front of a mirror is a great way to get an idea of the audience's point of view. You could also record a video while you recite the lines and watch it later to identify the parts that seem natural and those that don't.
- Practice in front of an audience of friends if you can. One or two people are also helpful in preparing you for the thought of performing in front of an audience. Ask them for some advice once you're done, and try to consider every suggestion, even if you end up not following it.
Part 2 of 3: Declaiming the Poem
Step 1. Dress well, but comfortable
Wear clothing you like, but make sure it looks neat and clean. You should also pay attention to personal hygiene. The goal is to stay relaxed and at ease, but also to convey an image that is self-confident and able to move in front of the public.
If you participate in a "poetry slam" or other context in which the lights are focused on the performer, while the audience is taking pictures, avoid wearing white. The lights on the white clothes prevent you from clearly seeing who is on stage
Step 2. Learn to manage stage fright
Most people get nervous before performing, so plan to deal with the situation. As you practice, you will become more confident, but there are several ways to stay calm on the day of the performance:
- Go to a quiet and relaxing place. If you know how to meditate or want to learn, give it a try. If not, just stand still and try to look at your surroundings instead of thinking about the performance.
- Drink and eat as you would if it were a normal day. Eat as usual and consume caffeinated drinks if you already do this on a daily basis. Only drink water right before performing to keep your throat from drying out.
- Calm down before the performance by stretching your muscles, taking a walk and humming a little to relax your voice.
- Take a few deep breaths before starting. This way, you will improve your tone of voice and calm your nerves as well.
Step 3. Stand up straight
Good posture has many benefits during a performance. In addition to making you seem more confident and prepared to face an audience, the straight posture will help you speak loudly and clearly so that everyone can hear.
Step 4. Make eye contact with the audience
While performing, you should look the audience in the eye. Move around the audience often, instead of staring at a single person for a long time, and pause long enough to look them in the eye. This way, you will get the attention of the audience and make your performance more natural.
If you enter a contest, don't just focus on the judges when other people are present as well. Pay attention to the whole audience and make eye contact even with those who are not part of the jury
Step 5. Make your voice reach everyone
There are techniques to make the tone of the voice louder and clearer without shouting. Keep your chin slightly raised, shoulders pulled back, and back straight. Try to get your voice out from the underside of your chest, not your throat.
- By pronouncing each word distinctly, you will ensure that the audience understands as well.
- Take deep breaths while running so you don't run out of air.
- Bring a glass of water to the stage to clear your throat if the performance lasts longer than a minute or two.
Step 6. Learn to speak into the microphone (if applicable)
Hold the microphone a few inches away from your mouth and slightly below. You should speak so that your voice passes through the top of the microphone, not directly in front of it. Before starting the performance, check the volume by introducing yourself or asking if the audience can hear.
- If you wear a microphone placed on your shirt or collar, there is no need to bring your mouth close. Talk as if you are chatting in a small group of people. Don't turn your head too far or too fast, or you risk tearing the microphone.
- If you have any problems with the microphone, please ask your sound engineer or show manager for assistance. Whoever stands on stage is not required to resolve difficulties with the sound system.
Part 3 of 3: Recovering from Mistakes or Other Possible Problems
Step 1. Go ahead if you make a small mistake in the use of words
If you say "that" instead of "what" or make a similar mistake that doesn't change the meaning or rhythm, don't panic! Just continue the performance without interrupting.
Step 2. If you make a bigger mistake, pause and repeat the last verse or the last two
The audience may notice this or get confused, so don't try to fool them by moving on. There's no need to overreact - just pause and go back to the beginning of the verse or to the point that you think makes the most sense.
The "biggest mistakes" can be: not respecting the succession of verses, forgetting the next verse or messing up the words so much as to ruin the meaning or rhythm of the poem
Step 3. Take a deep breath and start over if you completely forget the next verse
Sometimes, anxiety can take over memory. If you've gone back a few lines and still can't remember how the poem continues, start over. By remembering the rhythm you acquired while memorizing the lines, you may be able to overcome the part you thought you had forgotten.
- If it happens mostly with a long poem, go back a couple of lines or about ten lines.
- Keep a copy of the poem in your pocket in case you can't remember the succession of lines.
- If you have a copy of the poem with you and still can't remember a passage, go to the verse you know. If you forget the rest of the poem, calmly thank the audience, as if you were done.
Step 4. If someone tries to argue with you, stop them before they even interrupt you
During a poetry performance, the audience intervenes to listen to whoever is on stage, not to open a debate. Anyone who tries to interrupt you should be silenced by the public or the people responsible for the event.
Depending on where you came from, you might start over or just pick up on a step that resembles a natural attack
Step 5. Realize that the mistake you made was not as huge a disaster as you thought
Mistakes on stage can actually help performers become more confident over time. The fear of confusion is almost always worse than what actually happens. Think back to how it went once you calm down, and realize that people forget about the incident sooner than you think.
