Persona speech in poetry denotes a first-person utterance delivered not by the poet themselves but by a constructed voice or character—a persona—that embodies distinct attitudes, historical contexts, or psychological traits; this technique allows poets to explore perspectives beyond their own lived experience, enabling dramatic monologues (as in Browning’s “My Last Duchess”), mythological reimaginings, or sociopolitical critique through mediated voices, thereby complicating notions of authorship, authenticity, and the lyric “I” while expanding the expressive and ethical range of poetic discourse.

Persona speech adopts a fictional or historical voice to explore perspective. Related to voice imitation and personality sketch. Research the persona thoroughly—authenticity comes from idiom, not just costume; avoid ventriloquism that flattens complexity.