The purpose of this contest is to encourage the student to understand, experience and share poetry through the art of oral interpretation. Oral interpretation, or the study of literature through its performance, can be defined as a demonstration of analysis, performance and communication skills offered publicly on behalf of literature. Goals of Oral Interpretation.
Oral interpretation focuses on literature in performance.
The goals of this contest are to encourage the contestant's exploration of a variety of literary selections, and to enhance the performer's and audience's appreciation of literature through the performer's interpretation of the work. Each participant school in all conferences may enter three students in the contest. Each contestant must be eligible under Subchapter M of the Constitution. Only students in high school are eligible for this contest. Poetry contestants shall not compete at district in prose interpretation or in Lincoln-Douglas debate.