Sometimes, however, the performative quality of a work (i.e., the fact that it is being presented to an audience) is more obvious than at others. Drama and poetry, for example, tend to emphasize overt performance more than do short stories, which more often are read silently and in solitude.

How is the more direct performative aspect of drama and/or poetry reflected in these forms? (Consider for example, each genre’s uses of literary structure, language, technique, and style.) How do these literary elements affect your reading experience?

identify key qualities of drama and poetry which emphasize their performative qualities. Discuss how these characteristics shape your reading response. Support your views with at least one example of a dramatic text and one example of a poem.

Drama – Selection Trifles by Susan Glaspell
Poem – You, Reader by Billy Collins (2004)

my enjoyment of the poem You, Reader was after hearing an audio version by Billy Collins. Whereby, he gives a synopsis to what drew him to writing a piece that reflected the relationship between his readers and himself.

I know that this was mentioned in a preference discussion but, I beleive that it may be revelant to this discussion as well.

In short, my belief is that the enjoyment of reading and/or listening to a poem is an individual’s preferences. I for one can enjoy either of the two and even doing both. One thing I would add is that when I read a poem, my mindset gets engulf with the word usage, descriptiveness of the poem – so much so that my imagination begins to run rampant. It allows me to envision the scene in my head (an empty canvas waiting to be filled with color). As oppose to when I listen to an audio version, here I rely on my auditory senses (with partial hearing loss) to heighten my emotions and imagination, which can become hindered if the speaker does not command proper diction, tone and pitch. My imagination may not be so vivid as if I were reading it, even if I had to re-read it over and over again. And, to those with no limitations, it gives another way for readers to connect with the poem. Moreover, your mind and senses will be evoked by each words and/or lines as it flows out – transforming meanings simply by the speaker’s voice (animated/alive), your imagination is created by every breath, gasp, sigh, tone. I think it’s safe to say that the sounds we hear and internalize, will render individuals illumination to any given poem along. How about hearing a poem in person – just another experience that can rendered heighten insight. An excerpt taken from an essay written by Robert Frost (1916) entitled: "On the Figurea Poem Makes" he pointed out that "the object in writing poetry is to make all poems sound as different as possible from each other . . . sound is the gold in the ore.”