Speaker

Definition: The speaker in a poem is the one telling the story in his perspective. It does not always have to be the writer who is the speaker, though it could be.

Example: a pretty a day by E. E. Cummings

a pretty a day
(and every fades)
is here and away
(but born are maids
to flower an hour
in all,all)

o yes to flower
until so blithe
a doer a wooer
some limber and lithe
some very fine mower
a tall;tall

some jerry so very
(and nellie and fan)
some handsomest harry
(and sally and nan
they tremble and cower
so pale:pale)

for betty was born
to never say nay
but lucy could learn
and lily could pray
and fewer were shyer
than doll. doll

Significance: The significance of the speaker is that when you have different perspectives, more people can connect with the poem if they felt the same way. It could be one idea in one poem by one author, then another speaker in another poem by the same author.