Monologue

Definition

A monologue is a long speech delivered by a single character in a play or performance, often revealing their thoughts, feelings, and motivations to the audience. This form of expression allows deeper insight into a character's internal conflicts and personal journeys, playing a crucial role in developing plot, character, and theme, while also impacting the overall language and emotional music of the piece.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Monologues are often used to reveal key plot points, backstory, or character development that would be difficult to convey through action alone.
2. They can serve different purposes in a narrative, such as expressing a character's inner thoughts, delivering exposition, or creating dramatic tension.
3. Famous examples of monologues can be found in classic works like Shakespeare's plays, where characters like Hamlet and Lady Macbeth share pivotal thoughts that drive the story.
4. Monologues can vary in tone from reflective and introspective to confrontational and emotional, affecting the audience's engagement with the character's journey.
5. In modern theatre, monologues are frequently used in auditions to showcase an actor's range and ability to convey complex emotions through solo performance.

Review Questions

• How does a monologue contribute to the development of a character's arc within a play?
  • A monologue allows characters to express their internal struggles and motivations directly to the audience, providing essential context for their actions. By articulating their thoughts and feelings, characters can reveal vulnerabilities or desires that drive their decisions throughout the narrative. This direct connection helps the audience understand the character's journey more deeply and can enhance emotional investment in their development.
• In what ways does a monologue differ from dialogue in terms of emotional impact and storytelling?
  • Unlike dialogue, which involves interaction between characters and can depict relationships through back-and-forth exchanges, a monologue offers an intimate glimpse into a single character's mind. This isolation often amplifies emotional intensity as the audience is privy to personal revelations without interruption. Monologues can thus heighten dramatic tension by presenting unresolved conflicts or profound realizations that propel the story forward.
• Evaluate the role of subtext in monologues and how it enhances the audience's understanding of the character's true intentions.
  • Subtext plays a critical role in monologues by adding layers of meaning beyond what is explicitly stated. A skilled performer might convey emotions through body language or vocal tone that contradict or complicate the spoken words. This complexity invites the audience to read between the lines and consider what the character might be hiding or not fully aware of themselves. As a result, subtext enriches the narrative by creating tension and intrigue around the character's true intentions and motivations.

Related terms

soliloquy: A type of monologue where a character speaks their thoughts aloud while alone on stage, providing insight into their innermost feelings and reflections.

dialogue: A conversation between two or more characters, contrasting with a monologue by showcasing interactions and relationships through spoken exchanges.

subtext: The underlying meaning or implied message within a character's speech or actions that may not be explicitly stated, adding depth to both dialogue and monologues.