Monologue
Abby Mohr
Definition
A monologue is a speech, similar to a soliloquy, that is delivered by one person, who is in the company of others, during a performance.
Purpose
The purpose of a monologue is to offer more insight into the meaning and conflicts of a performance, as well as feelings of a person, and justify the actions of a character. For example, in the play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet gives a monologue that tells the audience of her emotional struggle going back and forth between feeling grief for Tybalt and love for Romeo.
Effects on Other Literary Elements
A monologue...
- Lets an audience get to know a character more intimately, by making them aware of personal thoughts and feelings of that character.
- Makes internal conflicts obvious to the audience.
- Offers another point-of-view of certain situations and characters.
- Can describe the setting through the words of a character.
- Thicken the plot because of the previously mentioned effects on conflict and characters' emotions.
A Few Good Man "You Can't Handle the Truth"
Purposes/Effects
Purpose: Justify the character's actions, answer any questions the viewer may have about the plot, resolve a conflict, and give insight into the character's (Jessep's) feelings & point-of-view.
Effects: The monologue captures the audience's attention, changes the setting so that the mood is more intense, and marks the beginning of the resolution to the plot.