Poet:
* Definition: A person who writes poetry.
* Focus: The individual who creates the poetry.
* Role: A poet can be a writer, a storyteller, a philosopher, or even a social commentator.
* Purpose: To express emotions, ideas, observations, and experiences through the art of poetry.
Persona:
* Definition: A character or mask adopted by a poet to speak in a poem.
* Focus: The fictional character or voice within the poem.
* Role: The persona is the "speaker" of the poem, not necessarily the poet themselves. It's a tool for the poet to explore different perspectives and experiences.
* Purpose: To allow the poet to explore a range of emotions, ideas, and experiences that they may not personally relate to.
Relationship between Persona and Poet:
* The poet creates the persona. The persona is a fictional construct, and the poet is the one who brings it to life.
* The persona speaks the poetry. The words in the poem are attributed to the persona, even though the poet is the author.
* The poet uses the persona to explore themes. By adopting a persona, the poet can explore perspectives, emotions, and experiences that are different from their own.
Examples:
* Poet: Emily Dickinson
* Persona: The persona in Emily Dickinson's poem "Because I could not stop for Death" is a personified Death, which is not Emily Dickinson herself.
* Poet: Robert Frost
* Persona: The persona in Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall" is a farmer who speaks about his relationship with his neighbor. While Frost was a farmer himself, the persona is not directly based on his own experiences.
In summary:
* Poet: The individual who creates the poetry.
* Persona: The fictional character or voice speaking within the poem.
While a poet can write from their own perspective, the persona is a powerful tool for exploring themes, perspectives, and experiences that are different from the poet's own.