1. Monologues
Part 1

2. Essential Question
What are the different elements of a good monologue?

3. What is a monologue? comes from Greek words
monos (alone) and logos (speech)
a speech of length addressed to a second person
used to express thoughts and ideas aloud

4. What is a monologue?
similar to soliloquy (solus – alone; loqui – to speak)
both have one speaker
soliloquy speaker is speaking to self
soliloquy gives audience insight into what is happening to the character interanally

5. What is a monologue?
playwright uses monologue as a dramatic device to heighten the action
happens when character must reveal inner thoughts and desires
builds tension
reveals secrets, feelings, or answers

6. Fascinating fact
In ancient Greek theatre only a single actor would appear on stage with the chorus.
Dialogue developed later and was not part of the earliest plays.
Monologues were the only way characters communicated information.

7. Types of Monologues - genre
dramatic
thoughtful and serious
comedic
heightened drama; humorous

8. Types of Monologues - category
classical
often refer to Greeks, Shakespeare, or those written in verse from the Romantics or Victorians
contemporary
written after 1900 and contain common speech

9. What is a monologue?
every monologue has a…
beginning
middle
end

10. What is a monologue? beginning
should grab the reader’s (or audience’s) attention
character faces a problem, challenge, or an obstacle

11. What is a monologue? middle arranges events and develops ideas
character reveals motivation (what is wanted; the why) and attempts to solve or deal with the problem

12. What is a monologue? end some form of resolution
character changes in some way after resolving (or NOT resolving) the problem

13. Let’s Watch find… category beginning, middle, end genre

14. Let’s Watch find… category beginning, middle, end genre

15. Let’s Watch find… category beginning, middle, end genre

16. Essential Question
What are the different elements of a good monologue?

17. Monologues
Part 2

18. Essential Question
What are the differences between monologues and prose?

19. identifying monologues
read the two excerpts
Which one do you think is the monologue? Why?
How can you tell which one is text from the story?

20. identifying monologues
Stage Directions
monolgues are written to be performed and will sometimes contain stage directions
these are in parentheses ( ) and not spoken by the actor
they do NOT have to be followed exactly…they are helpers

21. identifying monologues
Stage Directions
they help actors with entrances, exits, and verbal delivery
they help stage crew with changes in lighting or scenery
find the stage directions in the Alice monologue

22. Essential Question
What are the differences between monologues and prose?

23. Monologues
Part 3

24. Essential Question
What are the elements of a monologue and how do they work together to make a cohesive monologue?

25. Elements of a Monologue
character
person speaking
objective / viewpoint
what the character wants
attitude about it

26. Elements of a Monologue
obstacle
anything that gets in the way of the character’s objective in the monologue
tactics
what the character does to get to the resolution

27. Elements of a Monologue
conflict
happens when character must take action when faced with an obstacle
can be internal or external

28. Elements of a Monologue
resolution
decision or action character takes to resolve a problem
setting
time the monologue takes place
where the monologue takes place

29. Elements of a Monologue
exposition
background information

30. You try Using the Alice monologue answer the following…
Who is speaking?
How does the character view the situation?
What is standing in the way of that?
What problem or challenge does the character face?

31. You try Using the Alice monologue answer the following…
How is the conflict resolved?
What has happened right before the character begins speaking?
What does this character want?
What does the character do to achieve the objective?

32. You try Using the Alice monologue answer the following…
Who is the character speaking to?
Is this a dramatic or comedic monologue? Why?
Where is the monologue taking place?
When is the monologue taking place?

33. You try
Pick a monologue
Complete the Monologue Analysis Worksheet