MonologuesMonologuesand and

SoliloquiesSoliloquies

A monologue is an extended A monologue is an extended uninterrupted speech by a single uninterrupted speech by a single person.person.

It is common in both drama and written It is common in both drama and written fiction fiction

When the speech is directed to another When the speech is directed to another person/people, it is called a monologueperson/people, it is called a monologue

When the speech is directed to the When the speech is directed to the person him/herself it is called a person him/herself it is called a soliloquysoliloquy

Other types of monologues includeOther types of monologues includeDramatic Monologues (usually poetry)Dramatic Monologues (usually poetry)Stand-up comedy (think Jay Leno at the Stand-up comedy (think Jay Leno at the beginning of the tonight show)beginning of the tonight show)

Certain songs in musical theatre (when Certain songs in musical theatre (when they reveal the characters thoughts)they reveal the characters thoughts)

Villain Speeches (think Joker, Grinch)Villain Speeches (think Joker, Grinch)Rants (a la Rick Mercer)Rants (a la Rick Mercer)

MonologueMonologue

speech by a single characterspeech by a single characterExpresses thoughts and ideasExpresses thoughts and ideasAddresses another character or Addresses another character or the audiencethe audience

SoliloquySoliloquy

speaks to himself/herself speaks to himself/herself relating thoughts and feelings relating thoughts and feelings sharing them with the audience. sharing them with the audience. other characters, however, are other characters, however, are not aware of what is being not aware of what is being said. said.

A A monologue...monologue...is when the is when the character may be speaking his or character may be speaking his or her thoughts aloud, directly her thoughts aloud, directly addressing another character...It addressing another character...It is distinct from a soliloquy, is distinct from a soliloquy, which is where a character relates which is where a character relates his or her thoughts and feelings his or her thoughts and feelings to him/herself and to the audience to him/herself and to the audience withoutwithout addressing any of the addressing any of the other characters.other characters.

HOW TO READ A MONOLOGUEHOW TO READ A MONOLOGUE

Break the monologue into sections and Break the monologue into sections and work on transitioning between work on transitioning between sections.sections.

Memorize your monologue. Practice it Memorize your monologue. Practice it over and over again.over and over again.

Practice it for someone else. Make Practice it for someone else. Make adjustments based on their feedbackadjustments based on their feedback

Use a prop if appropriate but make Use a prop if appropriate but make sure it doesnsure it doesn’’t take away from your t take away from your speechspeech

Project your voice in the space. Project your voice in the space. Block out your audience, but make Block out your audience, but make sure they can hear you.sure they can hear you.

Act as if your surroundings are Act as if your surroundings are real and really there. Ex: if you real and really there. Ex: if you are supposed to be watching are supposed to be watching someone, someone, ““tracktrack”” them with your them with your eyes, even if they are actually eyes, even if they are actually invisible. invisible.

Move around as appropriate. DonMove around as appropriate. Don’’t t just stand there in one spot. just stand there in one spot.

Willy often has "internal Willy often has "internal monologues" where he imagines he monologues" where he imagines he is talking, most often, with his is talking, most often, with his brother Ben. Seen by Willie to as brother Ben. Seen by Willie to as a highly successful man, mining a highly successful man, mining diamonds in Africa and buying diamonds in Africa and buying large tracts of open land, Willy large tracts of open land, Willy carries on his conversations, or carries on his conversations, or monologues, with his brother, who monologues, with his brother, who is now deceased.is now deceased.

Willy's discussions are not Willy's discussions are not truly directed to himself or truly directed to himself or the audience, but to another the audience, but to another character, even if imaginary; character, even if imaginary; he carries on entire he carries on entire conversations, providing both conversations, providing both sides of the discussion. So sides of the discussion. So these are not soliloquies.these are not soliloquies.

LINDA: Are they any worse than his sons? When he brought them business, when he was young, they were glad to see him. But now his old friends, the old buyers that loved him so and al- ways found some order to hand him in a pinch — they’re all dead, retired. He used to be able to make six, seven calls a day in Boston. Now he takes his valises out of the car and puts them back and takes them out again and he’s exhausted. In- stead of walking he talks now. He drives seven hundred miles, and when he gets there no one knows him any more, no one welcomes him. And what goes through a man’s mind, driving seven hundred miles home without having earned a cent? Why shouldn’t he talk to himself? Why? When he has to go to Char- ley and borrow fifty dollars a week and pretend to me that it’s his pay? How long can that go on? How long? You see what I’m sitting here and waiting for? And you tell me he has no character? The man who never worked a day but for your benefit? When does he get the medal for that? Is this his reward — to turn around at the age of sixty-three and find his sons, who he loved better than his life, one a philandering bum...