AP English Literature and Composition Flashcards: Poetry speaker and persona; addressee and tone
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
What key literary elements help create a poem's tone?
A poem's tone is primarily created through diction (word choice), imagery, syntax (sentence structure), and figurative language. These elements work together to convey the speaker's attitude.
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What key literary elements help create a poem's tone?
A poem's tone is primarily created through diction (word choice), imagery, syntax (sentence structure), and figurative language. These elements work together to convey the speaker's attitude.
Who is the speaker in a poem?
The speaker is the voice that narrates the poem. This voice is a constructed identity and should not be automatically confused with the actual poet.
Define 'persona' in poetry.
A persona is a character or voice created by a poet to serve as the speaker of a poem. This allows the poet to explore a perspective, voice, or identity that is distinct from their own.
What is an addressee in a poem?
The addressee is the person, object, or abstract concept to whom the speaker is addressing their words. The addressee can be explicitly named or implicitly suggested by the poem's context.
Can the speaker of a poem be unreliable? If so, what does this mean?
Yes, a speaker can be unreliable, meaning their perception or account of events may be biased, misleading, or inaccurate. Identifying an unreliable speaker adds a layer of complexity to the interpretation of the poem.
Define 'tone' in poetry.
Tone is the speaker's attitude toward the subject of the poem or the addressee. It is conveyed through various literary devices, especially diction and imagery.
If a speaker describes a sunset using words like 'majestic,' 'glorious,' and 'divine,' what tone is being conveyed toward the subject?
The speaker is conveying an admiring, reverent, or awe-filled tone toward the sunset. The positive and elevated diction directly reveals this attitude.
In Robert Browning's 'My Last Duchess,' the speaker is a Renaissance duke. What is the term for this type of constructed speaker?
This type of constructed speaker, a character with a distinct identity created by the poet, is known as a persona.
What is the critical distinction between the poet and the speaker?
The poet is the real-life author of the poem, while the speaker is the fictional voice or character created by the poet to narrate the poem. The speaker's views and experiences may be very different from the poet's own.
How are the speaker, addressee, and tone fundamentally linked in a poem?
The speaker (who is speaking) directs a certain tone (attitude) toward an addressee (who is being spoken to) and a subject. Understanding this relationship is crucial for interpreting the poem's overall meaning and purpose.
How does identifying a poem's addressee contribute to its interpretation?
Identifying the addressee helps clarify the speaker's motivation, the context of the poem, and the intended effect of the language. It reveals the nature of the relationship between the speaker and the one being spoken to.