In theatre, a monologue (from Greek: μονόλογος, from μόνος mónos, "alone, solitary" and λόγος lógos, "speech") is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media (plays, films,[1] etc.), as well as in non-dramatic media such as poetry.[2] Monologues share much in common with several other literary devices including soliloquies, apostrophes, and asides. There are, however, distinctions between each of these devices.
Monologues are similar to poems, epiphanies, and others, in that, they involve one 'voice' speaking but there are differences between them. For example, a soliloquy involves a character relating their thoughts and feelings to themself and to the audience without addressing any of the other characters. A monologue is the thoughts of a person spoken out loud.[3] Monologues are also distinct from apostrophes, in which the speaker or writer addresses an imaginary person, inanimate object, or idea.[4] Asides differ from each of these not only in length (asides are shorter) but also in that asides are not heard by other characters even in situations where they logically should be (e.g. two characters engaging in a dialogue interrupted by one of them delivering an aside).[4]
History
In ancient Greek theatre, the origin of western drama,[5] the conventional three actor rule was preceded by a two-actor rule, which was itself preceded by a convention in which only a single actor would appear on stage, along with the chorus.[6] The origin of the monologue as a dramatic device, therefore, is not rooted in dialogue. It is, instead, the other way around; dialogue evolved from the monologue.
Ancient Roman theatre featured monologues extensively, more commonly than either Ancient Greek theatre or modern theatre.[7] One of the key purposes of these monologues was to indicate the passage of significant amounts of time (that would be tedious to actually play out in real time) within scenes. This type of monologue is referred to as a linking monologue.[8] Other monologue types included "entrance monologues"[8] and exit monologues.[9] In each of these cases a primary function is indicating the passage of time.[8]
From Renaissance theatre onward, monologues generally focused on characters using the extended speech to pursue their dramatic need. Postmodern theatre, on the other hand, often embraces the performative aspects of the monologue, even to the point of challenging the boundary between character portrayal (e.g. acting) and autobiographical speeches.[10]
Interior monologues involve a character externalizing their thoughts so that the audience can witness experiences that would otherwise be mostly internal. In contrast, a dramatic monologue involves one character speaking to another character.[11] Monologues can also be divided along the lines of active and narrative monologues. In an active monologue a character is using their speech to achieve a clear goal. Narrative monologues simply involve a character telling a story and can often be identified by the fact that they are in the past tense.[12]
Auditions
Actors in theatre, and sometimes in film and television, may be asked to deliver monologues in auditions. Audition monologues demonstrate an actor's ability to prepare a piece and deliver a performance.[13] These pieces are usually limited to two minutes or less and are often paired with a contrasting monologue: comic and dramatic; classical and contemporary. The choice of monologues for an audition[14] often depends on the play or role.
^"The Greatest Movie Speeches/Monologues of all time!". IMDb. from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^"Dramatic Monologue: An Introduction". Victorianweb.org. 10 March 2003. from the original on 7 August 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
^"Soliloquy – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary". Merriam-webster.com. from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
^ ab. Pleasanton.k12.ca.us. Archived from the original on 2 September 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
^The origins of theater in ancient Greece and beyond : from ritual to drama. Csapo, Eric., Miller, Margaret Christina. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2007. pp. 1–32. ISBN9780521836821. OCLC 70335135.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
^Kuritz, Paul (1988). The Making of Theatre History. ISBN978-0-13-547861-5. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
^Henry W. Prescott (January 1939). "Link Monologues in Roman Comedy". Classical Philology. 34 (1): 1–23. doi:10.1086/362195. JSTOR 264065. S2CID 162249208.
^ abcHenry W. Prescott (April 1939). "Link Monologues in Roman Comedy". Classical Philology. 34 (2): 116–126. doi:10.1086/362225. JSTOR 264823. S2CID 224792284.
^Henry W. Prescott (January 1942). "Exit Monologues in Roman Comedy". Classical Philology. 37 (1): 1–21. doi:10.1086/362568. JSTOR 264367. S2CID 162389976.
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For the Soviet film see Monologue film For the Malayalam film see Anantaram For the speech of a narrator see Voiceover In theatre a monologue from Greek monologos from monos monos alone solitary and logos logos speech is a speech presented by a single character most often to express their thoughts aloud though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media plays films 1 etc as well as in non dramatic media such as poetry 2 Monologues share much in common with several other literary devices including soliloquies apostrophes and asides There are however distinctions between each of these devices Actor Christopher Walken performing a monologue in the 1984 stage play Hurlyburly Contents 1 Similar literary devices 2 History 3 Types 4 Auditions 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksSimilar literary devices EditMonologues are similar to poems epiphanies and others in that they involve one voice speaking but there are differences between them For example a soliloquy involves a character relating their thoughts and feelings to themself and to the audience without addressing any of the other characters A monologue is the thoughts of a person spoken out loud 3 Monologues are also distinct from apostrophes in which the speaker or writer addresses an imaginary person inanimate object or idea 4 Asides differ from each of these not only in length asides are shorter but also in that asides are not heard by other characters even in situations where they logically should be e g two characters engaging in a dialogue interrupted by one of them delivering an aside 4 History EditIn ancient Greek theatre the origin of western drama 5 the conventional three actor rule was preceded by a two actor rule which was itself preceded by a convention in which only a single actor would appear on stage along with the chorus 6 The origin of the monologue as a dramatic device therefore is not rooted in dialogue It is instead the other way around dialogue evolved from the monologue Ancient Roman theatre featured monologues extensively more commonly than either Ancient Greek theatre or modern theatre 7 One of the key purposes of these monologues was to indicate the passage of significant amounts of time that would be tedious to actually play out in real time within scenes This type of monologue is referred to as a linking monologue 8 Other monologue types included entrance monologues 8 and exit monologues 9 In each of these cases a primary function is indicating the passage of time 8 From Renaissance theatre onward monologues generally focused on characters using the extended speech to pursue their dramatic need Postmodern theatre on the other hand often embraces the performative aspects of the monologue even to the point of challenging the boundary between character portrayal e g acting and autobiographical speeches 10 Types Edit source track track Example of a dramatic monologue by Rafael Baronesi Interior monologues involve a character externalizing their thoughts so that the audience can witness experiences that would otherwise be mostly internal In contrast a dramatic monologue involves one character speaking to another character 11 Monologues can also be divided along the lines of active and narrative monologues In an active monologue a character is using their speech to achieve a clear goal Narrative monologues simply involve a character telling a story and can often be identified by the fact that they are in the past tense 12 Auditions EditActors in theatre and sometimes in film and television may be asked to deliver monologues in auditions Audition monologues demonstrate an actor s ability to prepare a piece and deliver a performance 13 These pieces are usually limited to two minutes or less and are often paired with a contrasting monologue comic and dramatic classical and contemporary The choice of monologues for an audition 14 often depends on the play or role See also EditDramatic monologue Internal monologue One person show Oratory Performance poetry Rhetoric Stand up comedy Storytelling Diseuse Spoken wordReferences Edit The Greatest Movie Speeches Monologues of all time IMDb Archived from the original on 1 April 2016 Retrieved 29 April 2018 Dramatic Monologue An Introduction Victorianweb org 10 March 2003 Archived from the original on 7 August 2013 Retrieved 16 August 2013 Soliloquy Definition and More from the Free Merriam Webster Dictionary Merriam webster com Archived from the original on 6 July 2013 Retrieved 16 August 2013 a b The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Pleasanton k12 ca us Archived from the original on 2 September 2013 Retrieved 16 August 2013 The origins of theater in ancient Greece and beyond from ritual to drama Csapo Eric Miller Margaret Christina Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2007 pp 1 32 ISBN 9780521836821 OCLC 70335135 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link Kuritz Paul 1988 The Making of Theatre History ISBN 978 0 13 547861 5 Retrieved 27 May 2014 Henry W Prescott January 1939 Link Monologues in Roman Comedy Classical Philology 34 1 1 23 doi 10 1086 362195 JSTOR 264065 S2CID 162249208 a b c Henry W Prescott April 1939 Link Monologues in Roman Comedy Classical Philology 34 2 116 126 doi 10 1086 362225 JSTOR 264823 S2CID 224792284 Henry W Prescott January 1942 Exit Monologues in Roman Comedy Classical Philology 37 1 1 21 doi 10 1086 362568 JSTOR 264367 S2CID 162389976 Geis Deborah R December 1993 Postmodern theatric k s monologue in contemporary American drama University of Michigan Press ISBN 978 0 472 10467 3 Retrieved 27 May 2014 monologue drama and literature Encyclopaedia Britannica Britannica com Archived from the original on 12 August 2013 Retrieved 16 August 2013 Monologue Information Angelfire com Archived from the original on 28 October 2013 Retrieved 16 August 2013 Audition Monologues Ace Your Audition Archived from the original on 14 July 2010 Monologues from Movies amp Plays Daily Actor 4 October 2018 External links Edit Look up monologue soliloquy or rant in Wiktionary the free dictionary Monologue at Curlie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Monologue amp oldid 1136078835, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
