1. The Intended Audience:
* The Poet's Primary Target: This is the group the poet has in mind when writing. It could be:
* Specific individuals: A loved one, a friend, a historical figure.
* A particular group: A community, a social class, a generation.
* A broad demographic: People with shared interests, experiences, or beliefs.
* The poet's hopes: The poet might aim to:
* Connect with readers on a personal level.
* Educate or inform about a specific topic.
* Evoke emotions and stimulate thought.
* Celebrate or commemorate something.
* Challenge or critique societal norms.
2. The Actual Audience:
* Anyone who reads the poem: The actual audience is much broader than the intended audience.
* Readers across time: Poems can transcend their original context and resonate with readers centuries later.
* Individuals with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences: The same poem can be interpreted in countless ways depending on the reader.
3. The Poem's Internal Audience:
* The speaker: The poem might be addressed to a fictional character or a personified entity.
* Other characters within the poem: The speaker may be interacting with other figures in the narrative.
In short, the audience of a poem is a dynamic entity. It encompasses both the poet's vision and the individual experiences of each reader, creating a complex and ever-evolving conversation.