Speeches

Dialogues, Monologues, & SoliloquysSpeechesA conversation between two or more people

Example:Lines 62-111What makes this dialogue?What is Dialogue?

A long, uninterrupted speech by one person to an audience in the play

Example:Lines 211-231What makes this a monologue?What Is a Monologue?

A long, uninterrupted speech by one person to his or her self

Example:Lines 1-61What makes this a soliloquy?What is a Soliloquy?

Monologue In a monologue, a speaker is directing his speech toward an audience in the play. It can be directed toward one person or a group of people, such as a general preparing his men for battle.Soliloquy In a soliloquy, a speaker is not directing his speech to anyone other than himself. The speaker is simply thinking aloud, which allows the audience to pick up on what is going on in the play.Whats the difference?The main difference between a monologue and soliloquy is who the actor is speaking to:ExamplesFinding NemoLes MisrablesWizard of OzDespicable MeHerculesAnswersMonologueSoliloquyMonologueDialogueSoliloquyDialogue, Monologue, or Soliloquy?Authors use dialogue, monologues, and soliloquys to tell the audience about a characters motivations. A characters motivation answers why a character acts in his manner. Whats her driving force? What goal is she trying to reach?

In Medea, the Nurse introduces the backstory of the piece through a soliloquy. Right from the beginning, the audience is aware of the history between Jason and Medea from Jason and the Argonauts. What does this tell us about Medeas motivation?Whats the Point?Dramatic, Situational, & VerbalIronyThe audience knows more about events than the characters, so the events hold a different meaning for the audience compared to the characters

Example:In Romeo & Juliet, the audience knows Juliet isnt actually dead, but Romeo believes she is, which causes him to die.

Dramatic IronyThe actual outcome of an event is the opposite of the expected outcome of the event

Example:In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the audience expects Professor Snape to be one of the villains. Instead, he was protecting the hero the whole time.Situational Irony

What the speaker actually says contradicts what he or she really means

Example:In Monty Pythons Life of Brian, Brian tries to explain to a group of people that they are all individuals, which they collectively repeat

Verbal IronyExamplesMulanMean GirlsHannah MontanaShrekCaddyshackAnswersDramatic IronyVerbal IronyDramatic IronySituational IronyVerbal Irony

Dramatic, Situational, or Verbal Irony?Irony is used for many different things. At times it can be used to create tension, such as in horror movies. It can also be used to create a specific response from the audience, such as pity for an awkward character. It can even be used for humor, such as in Monty Python.

In Medea, irony is used for all of these purposes. As you read, keep track of examples of each type of irony and think of why theyre used.Whats the Point?