Oral Interpretation By: Randi C. Lundgren

What is Oral Interpretation?

“The art of communicating to an audience a work of literary art in its intellectual, emotional, and aesthetic entirety” Charlotte Lee and Timothy Gura. Oral Interpretation.

In English… Read a piece of literature out loud, interpreting it and adding emotion to your words. “An enlightening way to share the wonderful world of literature with other people.” Carol Marrs. The Complete Book of Speech Communication.

What steps should I take? Select your literature Analyze your piece Cut your selection Place your characters Mark your text Write an introduction Practice, Practice, Practice!!! Performance Carol Marrs. The Complete Book of Speech Communication.

Step One… Select your literature Analyze your piece Cut your selection Place your characters Mark your text Write an introduction Practice, Practice, Practice!!! Performance

Brent C. Oberg. Speechcraft: An Introduction to Public Speaking. Making your choice. Find a piece that fits and interests you. Consider the assignment and time limits. Consider your audience Universality – All people can relate to the theme of the story – ex. Love, Hate, Jealousy, or Fear. Brent C. Oberg. Speechcraft: An Introduction to Public Speaking.

Step Two… Select your literature Analyze your piece Cut your selection Place your characters Mark your text Write an introduction Practice, Practice, Practice!!! Performance

Brent C. Oberg. Speechcraft: An Introduction to Public Speaking. Analyze your text Read and re-read your text over and over. Decide on gestures, movements, and facial expressions for each character Look up all words you do not know Brent C. Oberg. Speechcraft: An Introduction to Public Speaking.

Step Three… Select your literature Analyze your piece Cut your selection Place your characters Mark your text Write an introduction Practice, Practice, Practice!!! Performance

Cutting your text… Choose a scene that can be taken on its own Must have a beginning, a middle, and an end Pick an interesting scene full of action Show don’t tell! Cut the he/she said… etc… Charlotte Lee and Timothy Gura. Oral Interpretation.

Step Four… Select your literature Analyze your piece Cut your selection Place your characters Mark your text Write an introduction Practice, Practice, Practice!!! Performance

Placement Pick a different place on the back wall for each character When that character has a line, look and gesture toward that spot Change your voice for the various characters Don’t be over dramatic Narration focuses on audience as a whole Carol Marrs. The Complete Book of Speech Communication.

Step Five… Select your literature Analyze your piece Cut your selection Place your characters Mark your text Write an introduction Practice, Practice, Practice!!! Performance

Marking your text… Draw arrows in your text to suggest placement Use X’s to distinguish a beat Use more X’s for more beats Underline the words you want to stress Carol Marrs. The Complete Book of Speech Communication.

He was a one-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eater. Carol Marrs. The Complete Book of Speech Communication.

He was a one-eyed, one-horned flying purple PEOPLE eater. Was he a purple monster who ate normal people? Carol Marrs. The Complete Book of Speech Communication.

He was a one-eyed, one-horned flying PURPLE people eater. Was he a normal monster who ate purple people? Carol Marrs. The Complete Book of Speech Communication.

Step Six… Select your literature Analyze your piece Cut your selection Place your characters Mark your text Write an introduction Practice, Practice, Practice!!! Performance

The purpose of an introduction… Prepare your audience Prepare yourself The audience is allowed to see you as yourself so it will be easier to see the changes in your characters. Judy E. Yordon. Roles in Interpretation.

Elements of an introduction… Title of the selection Author’s name Background information leading up to the beginning of your cutting Judy E. Yordon. Roles in Interpretation.

Step Seven… Select your literature Analyze your piece Cut your selection Place your characters Mark your text Write an introduction Practice, Practice, Practice!!! Performance

PRACTICE !!!! Practice several times so that you know your literature like the back of your hand. Practice your placement. Practice in front of a mirror so you can see your facial expressions and adjust them to fit. Carol Marrs. The Complete Book of Speech Communication.

Step Eight… Select your literature Analyze your piece Cut your selection Place your characters Mark your text Write an introduction Practice, Practice, Practice!!! Performance

Performance Time The performance should be entertaining, energetic, and fun for both the audience and the performer.

Handling your text… Put selection on only one side of the page Put it in a three ring binder Use fairly large print and double space the text Arrange pages so you won’t be turning the pages during the middle of a paragraph

Let’s try it…

Great Job!!

J. Regis O’Connor. Speech: Exploring Communication. “A good speaker can perform literature just as a good musician performs music.” J. Regis O’Connor. Speech: Exploring Communication.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!