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Assumed persona

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The adoption of a fictional or historical voice by the poet to narrate or speak within a poem

Detailed Definition
Assumed persona is a poetic strategy wherein the speaker adopts a fictional or historical identity—distinct from the poet’s own—to explore perspectives, emotions, or narratives otherwise inaccessible; exemplified by dramatic monologues like Browning’s “My Last Duchess” or persona poems in confessional poetry, this technique enables psychological depth, irony, and ethical inquiry through the mediated voice of another.
Example
Example in poetry:
Sylvia Plath’s “Lady Lazarus” adopts a theatrical, resurrected persona; Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess” speaks through a jealous duke; Louise Glück’s “Persephone the Wanderer” assumes the mythological figure’s voice; Ai’s dramatic monologues give voice to murderers, veterans, and outcasts.
Additional Notes
Assumed persona is a speaker adopted by the poet who is distinct from their real identity—used to explore perspectives, historical figures, or fictional characters; central to dramatic monologue and persona poetry.
Also Known As
Masked speaker poetic mask fictive voice adopted voice Adopted speaker
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