How do you know what kind of diction to use when reading a poem?

Answer by  patti (29325)

Understand the poem and the poet's intention. Most poems don't rhyme. Never use an accent that isn't your own, unless you are playing a role for which it is required.

Answer by  CarolynOsborne (2804)

When reading a poem, pay attention to line length and sentences. Make a tiny pause at the end of a line and a slightly longer pause when there is a period. Read slowly so that listeners can hear alliteration, consonance, and other sound devices. Do not over-emphasize rhyme because then the poem sounds sing-songy.

Answer by  lusaro2 (44)

Every single word in a poem has very carefully been chosen. Thus, the power of the words used, the length of the lines, and the meaning of every single word, mainly adjectives, nouns, adverbs and verbs, must be taken into account to choose the correct diction when reading a poem.