Internal Monologue

Definition

Internal monologue is a narrative device that allows readers to access a character's thoughts and feelings directly, often presenting their inner voice and self-reflection. This technique can reveal a character's motivations, conflicts, and personality traits, helping to create a deeper connection between the reader and the character.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Internal monologues can be presented in first-person or third-person perspectives, allowing flexibility in how the character's thoughts are conveyed.
2. This technique is particularly effective in showing conflicting emotions, as characters might express one sentiment outwardly while thinking another internally.
3. Writers often use internal monologues to enhance pacing and tension by revealing a character’s real-time reactions to events occurring in the story.
4. Internal monologues can help to establish the unique voice of a character, showcasing their individuality through language choices and thought patterns.
5. Incorporating internal monologue can create empathy in readers by allowing them to experience a character's struggles and joys from within.

Review Questions

• How does internal monologue contribute to understanding a character's motivations?
  • Internal monologue provides direct access to a character's thoughts, allowing readers to see their true motivations and feelings that might not be evident through dialogue or actions. This insight helps readers understand the reasoning behind a character’s choices and decisions. By revealing what characters are grappling with internally, internal monologues enrich the narrative and create a more layered understanding of their behavior.
• Discuss how internal monologue can enhance pacing and tension within a story.
  • Internal monologue can significantly impact the pacing of a narrative by slowing down moments to delve into a character's thoughts. When used during critical scenes, it can heighten tension by illustrating a character's anxious thoughts or conflicting emotions about an event. This technique allows readers to linger on crucial moments, making them feel more intense and engaging as they align their focus with the character’s inner turmoil.
• Evaluate the role of internal monologue in establishing a unique voice for characters and its overall impact on storytelling.
  • Internal monologue plays a critical role in crafting distinct voices for characters by allowing their personal thoughts, quirks, and language styles to shine through. This technique can transform a narrative by making characters feel more authentic and relatable, as readers connect with their inner lives. The overall impact on storytelling is profound; it deepens emotional engagement and enhances the complexity of characters, making them memorable long after the story concludes.

Related terms

Stream of Consciousness: A narrative style that attempts to capture the flow of thoughts and feelings as they occur in a character's mind, often without structured dialogue or traditional grammar.

Character Development: The process of creating a believable and complex character through their actions, dialogues, and internal thoughts, which often includes internal monologues.

Dialogue:

The written conversational exchange between two or more characters in a narrative, which can contrast with or complement internal monologues.