Monologue Preparation
Walking and Speaking in a
Character’s Shoes
E. Banathy
Task
important
Using the play you studied in class, present a monologue where you:
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assume the role of a character from the play
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speak about yourself or another character
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through your comments present an invited reading of that
character.
Before you commence your monologue, you will need to give a brief
statement about your chosen character/s and the context in
which you are speaking.
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Purpose:
To analyse the dominant readings of
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Text and how audiences are positioned to
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accept this perspective
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Audience:
Theatre goers.
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Roles &
As a speaker you will present to an
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Relationships:
audience of theatre goers an Invited
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Reading of your text.
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Length 3 – 4 minutes.
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Character selection
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What information do you have?
What characteristics are apparent?
What changes in character can you reveal?
How does the character influence the story
line?
• How relevant is the character to the overall
discourse?
• Is there sufficient information for effective
insight into the character’s overall role to
sustain the length of monologue required?
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Character profile
• Gather material about your character according to the
questions on the previous slide, noting in particular the
way in which the character develops so that the
discourse is strengthened. In addition, look at :
• What is the author positioning the audience to believe
about this character?
• What judgement about the character is the author
positioning the audience to make?
• What are the flaws/good points which the character
himself/herself is aware of?
• Who is to blame for the predicament the character is
in?
• What social comment is the author making about the
character’s faults/good points?
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Banquo
Lady
Macbeth
Select the character
• Create a general profile of events for the
character
• Match the profile of events/incidents with
the mood changes of your character
• Tag these mood signifiers in your text
Then ……( next slide)
Macduff
Macbeth
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What does a monologue do?
What are its characteristics?
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Reflective
Revelatory
Justifies Actions
Explores motives
Considers significant milestones
Assesses relationships
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Preparing to write the monologue
• The character decision has been made so…..
NOW
• Decide on where and when the monologue is to
take place- indicate into what Act, Scene, line or
section of the novel you would insert the
monologue.
• Think carefully – what does the character not know or
know at this point? You must keep to this.
• Decide on moods/emotions of your character
• Plan an outline of your monologue – what is your character
going to reflect on?
• Plan the audience positioning of your monologue – what do
you want the audience response to be at the end of your
monologue ? What emotion do you want to evoke? What
quotes/lines do you want to use?
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Writing the monologue
• Starting point- when and where( place)
• Macbeth: Act 5,5: line 49 e.g. I begin to be
weary of the sun – I have been betrayed and I
just….
• What aspect of the character do you start with?
Begin reflection with a weary and disappointed
Macbeth who realises the witches have
betrayed him
• Mood / movement to accompany- Moves to
look out over the advancing troops
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Follow your planned outline
• Where to from the start?
• Where do you want to finish?
• What other emotions and reactions do
you want to explore? A concept map will
help e.g.
Start
weary
Finish
anger
regretful
Blames
others
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guilt
Follow your planned outline
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Where will you use lines, phrases from the text?
Where will you build in movement?
What props will you need?
How do you want to ensure audience
positioning?
Start
Show
audience I regret
my actions by
Finish
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Presentation
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Props?
Movement decisions
Script – know the material- length
Stance/facial expression
Pacing of reflective speaking/ pace reflects
emotion!
• Volume reflects emotion
• Eye contact?
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