GlossariesAP® GlossariesAP® English GlossarySpeaker

Speaker - AP® English Definition

Reviewed by: Nick Redgrove

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Speaker refers to the voice behind a piece of writing — the person or character who is speaking. In AP English, students learn that identifying the speaker is important for understanding the message, tone, and purpose of a text.

The speaker may be the author or a fictional persona. Understanding who the speaker is helps readers analyse point of view, biases, and how the speaker’s identity affects the way ideas are expressed.

Example of speaker in an AP English text

In 'Letter from Birmingham Jail', the speaker is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights leader writing from jail.

Knowing King is the speaker helps readers understand the authority, urgency, and emotional weight behind his message. His position as a peaceful protester adds meaning to his appeals for justice and nonviolent action.

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Nick Redgrove

Reviewer: Nick Redgrove

Expertise: English Content Creator

Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.

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