Dramatic Monologue

Definition

A dramatic monologue is a speech in which a single character speaks to a silent audience, revealing their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. This form allows the character to express their inner conflicts and emotions, often creating a deeper understanding of their persona and situation within the narrative.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The concept of the dramatic monologue was popularized in the 19th century, particularly through the works of poets like Robert Browning.
2. In Greek tragedy, dramatic monologues were used to provide insight into a character's psyche, often highlighting their moral dilemmas and emotional struggles.
3. Thespis, credited as the first actor, used elements similar to dramatic monologues when portraying characters' thoughts and feelings in his performances.
4. Dramatic monologues can be pivotal in revealing key plot points or themes through the character's personal reflections and revelations.
5. The effectiveness of a dramatic monologue relies heavily on the character's voice, style, and emotional depth to engage the audience.

Review Questions

• How does the use of dramatic monologues contribute to character development in Greek tragedy?
  • Dramatic monologues are crucial in Greek tragedy as they allow characters to express their innermost thoughts and conflicts. Through these speeches, audiences gain insight into the character's motivations, desires, and struggles. This deepens the emotional connection with the character and enhances the understanding of their decisions and actions within the narrative.
• Compare and contrast dramatic monologues with soliloquies in terms of their function and impact on an audience.
  • Both dramatic monologues and soliloquies serve to reveal a character's inner thoughts; however, they differ in audience engagement. Dramatic monologues are addressed to other characters or an implied audience, creating interaction, while soliloquies are direct expressions of thought when a character is alone. This distinction affects how the audience interprets the character's state of mind—monologues can create tension between characters, whereas soliloquies provide a more intimate glimpse into personal dilemmas.
• Evaluate the role of Thespis in the evolution of dramatic forms, particularly focusing on how he might have utilized elements of dramatic monologues in his performances.
  • Thespis is significant in the evolution of drama as he is credited with introducing the first actor who stepped away from the chorus. He likely incorporated elements similar to dramatic monologues to convey characters' thoughts directly to the audience, enhancing emotional engagement. By allowing characters to speak individually rather than collectively through choral dialogue, Thespis set the stage for deeper psychological exploration in drama. This shift paved the way for future playwrights to develop complex characters through similar devices.

Related terms

Soliloquy: A soliloquy is a speech delivered by a character alone on stage, allowing them to express their inner thoughts directly to the audience.

Characterization: Characterization is the process by which an author reveals the personality and traits of a character, often through dialogue and actions.

Monodrama: A monodrama is a play for a single actor that focuses on their character's experiences and thoughts, often featuring dramatic monologues.