How can you identify the poem's speaker and narrator?

• A. Look at point of view, pronouns used, who is addressing whom, and whether the voice shifts
• B. Count the number of syllables per line
• C. Determine the poet's age
• D. Check the poem's rhyme scheme only

Answer: (A)

To identify the poem's speaker and narrator, focus on the voice you hear in the poem itself. Look for the point of view—does the speaker tell the story in the first person (“I,” “we”)? notice who is being addressed, and what pronouns are used throughout. If the voice changes or shifts across the poem, that often shows a change in speaker or a move from narrator to audience or to a different persona. These clues help you determine who is speaking and whether the voice is a character the poet has created, rather than the poet themselves.

Counting syllables per line, the poet’s age, or the rhyme scheme don’t reveal who is speaking; they affect rhythm or structure, not the identity of the speaker.