The Internal Monologue Poem

Today, let's attempt an internal or dramatic monologue poem. 

What is it?

Internal Monologue Poem: a specific character or speaker is speaking to a specific person or persons (audience) for a specific purpose (motivation or speaker's goal) at a specific time and place. In other words, think of a situation where your character (not YOU, but your character) is speaking for a reason or purpose.

Here are some famous examples of internal monologue poems. Note that these speakers are writing about themselves as objects or in the 3rd person in some cases (the action is going on in the person's head, such as in the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock about an aging lonely guy who can't bring himself to speak to women)

As you watch each video and read each poem, on your index card identify the following information for each of the poems (that's a total of 5):

1. Watch and read the poem for WHO: who is the speaker in the poem most likely?
2. Watch and read the poem for PURPOSE: WHY is the speaker talking most likely?
3. Watch and read the poem for AUDIENCE: TO WHOM is the speaker speaking most likely? Try to be specific with this: not just "to us" but WHO in the character's life would the character be speaking to in this situation?

Record your answers on the index card. After viewing check your answers with a partner. Discuss your findings. Hand in your card by the end of 3rd period.

Internal Monologue Poems:

• The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot (here's a video of Eliot reading his poem)
• Daddy by Sylvia Plath. The vocal performance read by the poet.
• My Last Duchess by Robert Browning. Here's a reading of the poem.
• To An Athlete Dying Young by A.E. Housman. The reading of the poem.
• Miniver Cheevy by Edwin Arlington Robinson. The poem read.

Now it's your turn. You will create a MADE UP character. Someone fictional, perhaps BASED ON YOU, but NOT YOU! Fill out the handout character sheet. Hold on to this sheet. You will turn it in with your poem draft.

If you complete your character design, please complete the following task:

In verse please write a internal monologue poem. Length is up to you. Title your piece the name of the character. Use the poems you read or listened to as models. Use your character sheet to provide details in which you identify the speaker, the audience, and the speaker's goal (i.e., WHO, WHY, and To WHOM).

During 4th period, we will conclude our speeches.

HOMEWORK: I will be collecting your journals next class (Friday) We will not see each other on Wednesday due to testing.