Advanced Speech 2: There Is Only One Story

(This is initially a speech delivered for the Interpretive Reading Manual (Advanced Communication Series) of Toastmaster International. My Advanced Speech 2)

Main objective of Advanced Speech 1 is to Interpret A Poetry — It challenges the speaker to use imagery, rhythm, meter, cadence, and rhyme to convey the meanings and emotions of the poetry. The speech should be 6 to 8 minutes.

For this project, I chose one of the poems posted in the Transparency Site.

I chose this particular poem because of its meaning. Right now, I am into this concept of us (as an individual) having multiple stories. And that it is a grave mistake to know a person just by a single story like being poor or being part of a certain race.

As much as possible, I would like to encourage us to look at a person beyond physical appearance, beyond the first impression and beyond on what society has characterized them to be. The more you know about a person's life, the more you see each other's similarities. We are after all a human being. So do not put a period in one's personality. Perhaps (just perhaps) the person that you truly hate is much like you.

Although this poem interprets stories in general (and not personality), it explains why we are so fond of them. It is because in those stories we see our own.

Another reason I chose this is because my goal is to be a storyteller.

There is only one story

by Ken Sanes

                                  There is only one story
whether it is told by a lyric poet or a dramatist,
or a writer of epics or novels,
or a reciter of myths and folktales.
The story is filled with beginnings and endings
and it is forever coming to a climax,
which is why, somewhere in the telling,
young lovers are always sneaking off
to profess their love,
and young soldiers, imbued with ideas of glory,
                                           are dying in battle. 

http://www.readersdigest.co.in

We all know what the story is about
because it is our story,
with a change in the verbs and nouns
to hide the truth 
        and enrich the meaning. 
It is a story about adventurers 
on a ship that travels the oceans
searching for a lost island, 
or an undefiled heart,
                 or something as simple 
as a pile of treasure, with rubies and gold coins
locked in a wooden chest. 
Of course, the story also includes pirates
who try to steal the treasure
because there really are pirates
or else there are rivals 
or earthquakes or stubborn fathers 
who refuse to accept the destiny of love 
                                         for their daughters.

Advanced Speech 1: A Tell Tale Heart

(This is initially a speech delivered for the Interpretive Reading Manual (Advanced Communication Series) of Toastmaster International. My Advanced Speech 1)

Main objective of Advanced Speech 1 is to Read A Story — It challenges the speaker to enthrall the audience with a story that the audience isn’t even aware of the reader. The speech should be 8 to 10 minutes.

I chose one of Edgar Allan Poe’s story for this project

The Tell Tale Heart

by Edgar Allan Poe

Aside from the story being a literary classic, I chose this because of the protagonist’s (who was also the narrator) sober madness, which I believe would be an advantage in telling a story. If I could deliver the speech in such a way that my audience would think that I am disturbed and ready for the psychiatric hospital then I could tell that I did my job right.

Another reason is that I am really into vicious, dark and eerie stories. So, if I could get my audience transported to this realm then it would be a good chill for them.

But then, if you can spare a few minutes and haven’t read The Tell Tale Heart of Poe, now is a good chance. The story is full of irony and suspense, also INSANITY for the part of the narrator. (summary &analysis)

schoolworkhelp.net

You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded –with what caution –with what foresight –with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it –oh so gently! And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly –very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man’s sleep. It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see him as he lay upon his bed. Ha! would a madman have been so wise as this, And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously-oh, so cautiously –cautiously (for the hinges creaked) –I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did for seven long nights –every night just at midnight –but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye. And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night. So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept. (for the whole story)

By the way if you are curious on how the speech went. Let’s just say I was happy. I need some improvement on some areas specially on my pauses. But below is a piece of what my evaluator had remarked about my performance

Let me open the door inch by inch. I glanced inside and saw a speaker who was eager to advance herself that she took the risk of a story that often gives a cringe to the safe-minded and weak at heart. The story,  because of its vicious nature, showed a part of our speaker’s personality – her unquestionable bravery to walk through uncharted territory.