Romeo and Juliet Monologue vs. Soliloquy

MONOLOGUE a speech by one character in a play; intended to be heard by other characters

SOLILOQUY a long speech expressing the thoughts of a character; gives insight into a character

ARE THE FOLLOWING SPEECHES MONOLOGUES OR SOLILOQUYS?

Act 1 Scene 3, lines Act 1 Scene 3, lines Nurse: Even or odd, all the days of the year, Nurse: Even or odd, all the days of the year, Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen. Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen. Susan and she (God rest all Christian souls!) Susan and she (God rest all Christian souls!) Were of an age. Well, Susan is with God: Were of an age. Well, Susan is with God: She was too good for me. But, as I said, She was too good for me. But, as I said, On Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen: On Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen: That shall she, marry: I remember it well. That shall she, marry: I remember it well. 'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years. 'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years. And she was weaned (I never shall forget it... And she was weaned (I never shall forget it...monologue

Act 2 Scene 3, lines 1-30 Act 2 Scene 3, lines 1-30 Friar: The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night, Friar: The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night, Check'ring the eastern clouds with streaks of light; Check'ring the eastern clouds with streaks of light; And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels From forth day's path and Titan's burning wheels. From forth day's path and Titan's burning wheels. Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry, The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry, I must upfill this osier cage of ours... I must upfill this osier cage of ours...soliloquy

Act 1 Scene 1 lines Act 1 Scene 1 lines Prince: Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Prince: Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbor-stained steel— Profaners of this neighbor-stained steel— Will they not hear? What, ho! You men, you beasts, Will they not hear? What, ho! You men, you beasts, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage That quench the fire of your pernicious rage With purple fountains issuing from your veins! With purple fountains issuing from your veins! On pain of torture, from those bloody hands... On pain of torture, from those bloody hands...monologue

Act 3 Scene 2, lines 1-31 Act 3 Scene 2, lines 1-31 Juliet: Gallop, apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Juliet: Gallop, apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Towards phoebus's lodging! Such a wagoner Towards phoebus's lodging! Such a wagoner As Phaeton would whip you to the west As Phaeton would whip you to the west And bring in a cloudy night immediately, And bring in a cloudy night immediately, Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night, Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night, That runaways' eyes may wink, and Romeo That runaways' eyes may wink, and Romeo Leap to these arms untalked of and unseen... Leap to these arms untalked of and unseen...soliloquy

Act 4 Scene 3, lines Act 4 Scene 3, lines Juliet: Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again. Juliet: Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again. I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins That almost freezes up the heat of life. That almost freezes up the heat of life. I'll call them back again to comfort me. I'll call them back again to comfort me. Nurse!--What should she do here? Nurse!--What should she do here? My dismal scene I needs must act alone... My dismal scene I needs must act alone...soliloquy

Act 4 Scene 5, lines Act 4 Scene 5, lines Friar: Peace, ho, for shame! Confusion's cure lives not Friar: Peace, ho, for shame! Confusion's cure lives not In these confusions. Heaven and yourself In these confusions. Heaven and yourself Had part in this fair maid—now heaven hath all, Had part in this fair maid—now heaven hath all, And all the better is it for the maid, And all the better is it for the maid, Your part in her you could not keep from death. Your part in her you could not keep from death. But heaven keeps his part in eternal life... But heaven keeps his part in eternal life...monologue

Act 2 Scene 2 lines 2-24 Act 2 Scene 2 lines 2-24 Romeo: But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? Romeo: But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief Who is already sick and pale with grief That thou her maid art far more fair than she That thou her maid art far more fair than she Be not her maid, since she is envious... Be not her maid, since she is envious...soliloquy

Aside aside: words spoken by an actor supposedly heard only by the audience aside: words spoken by an actor supposedly heard only by the audience Example: Romeo uses asides as he is listening to Juliet’s soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 2. In line 27, he says, “She speaks.” He is not talking to Juliet, the only other person on stage. Only the audience is intended to hear this line. Example: Romeo uses asides as he is listening to Juliet’s soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 2. In line 27, he says, “She speaks.” He is not talking to Juliet, the only other person on stage. Only the audience is intended to hear this line.

HOW DO I TELL THE DIFFERENCE? ASK YOURSELF: ASK YOURSELF: WHO IS THE INTENDED AUDIENCE? WHO IS THE INTENDED AUDIENCE? IS THERE ANYONE ON STAGE? IS THERE ANYONE ON STAGE? ARE THE PEOPLE ON STAGE SUPPOSED TO HEAR THIS? ARE THE PEOPLE ON STAGE SUPPOSED TO HEAR THIS? DOES THIS GIVE INSIGHT INTO THE PRIVATE THOUGHTS OF THE SPEAKER? DOES THIS GIVE INSIGHT INTO THE PRIVATE THOUGHTS OF THE SPEAKER?