Declamation Speech

- What they are, how to choose a piece and deliver it

A declamation speech is the term used to describe the

re-giving of an important or famous speech. It could be
a political, graduation or commencement speech, a
eulogy, or a sermon. The speaker re-interprets the
original, reproducing its power afresh.

Often this exercise will be set as part of studying

public speaking skills. The purpose is to have the
student directly experience the power of masterfully
crafted language. Through their interpretation the
techniques and skills of the original orator are learned.

In Toastmasters, this is covered in the advanced

Interpretive Reading manual: project 5 - The Oratorical
Speech.

Declamation origins

Find out more about the

great Greek orator
Demosthenes.

This method of teaching was used in ancient Greece where public

speaking was considered a necessary art for anybody embarking
on a career in public service. A declamation was a practice piece
set by a teacher for exactly the same reason they are set now: to
have a student learn the skills of combining eloquent language
with equally eloquent delivery.

Choosing a declamation speech

What you choose is critical. Firstly, you must like it. There's no good to be gained from choosing
something because you think it will please or impress your teacher and likewise, judges. You're
going to work on this piece to make it your own. Therefore it needs to genuinely reflect you in
theme and message.
And secondly it needs a combination of the qualities listed in the following areas:-

•   Style of language: Elevated, inspirational, elegant, poetic, masterful - the speech should
be an example of 'beautiful' language and construction.
•   Structure: Look for unity of purpose. The piece needs to be structurally coherent - have
a beginning, development and close. It is not a loose ramble or collection of impressions
without form.
•   Theme: The message or theme running through it should be worthy of its oratorical
treatment, ie. the style of language specified above. It must be important and applicable
beyond the time it was first delivered. For example, Martin Luther King's 'I Had a
Dream' speech has carried its theme down the years without any loss of potency or
relevance. (But be warned - choose carefully. A famous speech such as King's will have
been heard and heard again. You need something of similar impact but with considerably
less profile.)
•   Impact: The speech must have reached and grabbed the hearts and minds of its listeners.
It will have persuasively challenged and changed the way people thought and acted,
uniting and inspiring them toward a common goal or course of action.

If you're choosing for a competition before you make your choice be sure to review the
guidelines and do take note of the allocated time. Be prepared to cut your selection to fit.

Search for a declamation piece

Looking for just the right extract takes time. The links below are a good starting point. Other
avenues worth exploring are archives of previous declamation competition winners, asking for
help from your teachers, or librarians, experimenting with search words: eulogies, motivational
or persuasive speeches, civil rights speeches ... Keep going until you find something you know
you'll feel wholehearted about.

Understanding your piece

- Understanding is your top priority
If you learn or memorize the text without it your delivery will be empty - an ultimate talking
head presentation.

- Find out about context

What was the occasion the speech was written for?

Who was the audience? What did they need or expect from the speech?

- Find out about the original speech maker

Who was he or she? What delivery characteristics did they use?
What passions drove them?
What did they want from the speech? (Its purpose or goal.)
Extra Resources  

Declamation Competitions
This is a Wikipedia page with ongoing links to the National Catholic Forensic League and
the Theodore Gibson Oratorical Project.

And here's a link to a set of excellent resources from forensicscommunity.com.

There is a wealth of information here: guides, a forum and links to videos. It's a must-look
site if you're serious about performing to the best of your ability.

- What does this speech mean to you?

Can you put what is being said into your own words? The more you dig into the meaning of the
piece, emotionally and intellectually, the more able you'll be to convey it convincingly.

- Print the speech out in a clear font, double spaced.

You will use the gaps to write yourself notes and mark it up for delivery. For example, putting in
the pauses, or breath points, the places to soften your voice, increase the volume or for
movement.

- If you can, listen to original speech while reading your copy.

Note how the voice is being used. What qualities are you hearing? Do they change for different
portions of the speech? Can you hear a beat or rhythm? Listen until you can clearly identify
changes in tone, pitch, and pace.

And now practice.

The  goal  is  not  to  impersonate  the  original  speech  maker.  You  don't  
have  to  'become'  for  example,  Winston  Churchill,  but  you  do  have  to  
find  and  sincerely  draw  out  the  qualities  of  the  speech  making  it  
memorable.  

Rehearsing your speech

There are full guidelines here on how to rehearse here as well as tips for
vocal variety, using pace and pause effectively as well as diction
exercises to clear up any sloppy pronunciation issues.

Declamation Definition

The action or art of declaiming; the repeating or uttering of a speech, etc. with studied
intonation and gesture.
 1.   A public speech or address of rhetorical character; a set speech in rhetorical
elocution.  
2.   Declaiming or speaking in an impassioned oratorical manner; fervid denunciation
with appeals to the audience.  
3.   A speech of a rhetorical kind expressing strong feeling and addressed to the
passions of the hearers; a declamatory speech, a harangue.  
4.   Renunciation, repudiation, disclaimer.  

Reference: www.wordinfo.info an etymological treasure trove.

http://www.write-­‐out-­‐loud.com/declamation-­‐speech.html