Dramatic Monologue: Take Time to Pretend
Midge Goldberg
Want a chance (for a page or so) to be anyone you want, anywhere, any time? We’ll explore what makes a dramatic monologue (also known as a persona poem) and try our hands at writing them. We’ll discuss creating characters, giving them their own voices distinct from the poet, and using dialogue, meter, place, and the silent listener to enhance the poem. We'll read poems that are written from a different perspective, including age, background, or gender; speak in the voice of a well-known fictional, historical, or mythical character; and use a specific form or format to talk to the poem’s listener. We’ll do some writing, and we’ll workshop poems in the last session, either one you write during the class or one you bring with you. Spend some time pretending—come write dramatic monologues!
