Final answer:
The speaker in a Romantic period poem may address various entities or concepts, with changes in tone and content throughout signifying a shift from public to personal address, aligning with Romantic ideals like emotion and individualism.
Step-by-step explanation:
In poetry, identifying to whom the speaker is addressing can reveal critical insights into the work's meaning and its underlying themes. Often, the addressee could be another character within the poem, the reader themselves, or a broader audience. In the case of Romantic period poetry, the speaker may address concepts such as nature, the self, or societal issues, reflecting Romantic ideals such as individualism, emotion, and a connection to the natural world. The change in tone, content, and use of pronouns in the poem can indicate a shift in whom the speaker is addressing, whether it be moving from direct address to an audience in the first part to a more introspective or philosophical tone in later stanzas. Such a shift can suggest a change from external to internal dialogue or from a public to a more personal mode of address.
When analyzing the poem, it's important to note not only who is being addressed, but also the tone and purpose of the poem. These elements can help clarify the poem's message and how it aligns with Romantic principles. For instance, a tone of awe and an exploration of personal experience could signify Romanticism's emphasis on individual perception and emotion.