Monologues
and
Soliloquies
A monologue is an extended uninterrupted
speech by a single person.
 It is common in both drama and written
fiction
 When the speech is directed to another
person/people, it is called a monologue
 When the speech is directed to the person
him/herself it is called a soliloquy


Other types of monologues include
 Dramatic
Monologues (usually poetry)
 Stand-up comedy (think Jay Leno at the
beginning of the tonight show)
 Certain songs in musical theatre (when they
reveal the characters thoughts)
 Villain Speeches (think Joker, Grinch)
 Rants (a la Rick Mercer)
Monologue
speech by a single character
 Expresses thoughts and ideas
 Addresses another character or the
audience

Soliloquy
speaks to himself/herself
 relating thoughts and feelings
 sharing them with the audience.
 other characters, however, are not aware
of what is being said.


A monologue...is when the character
may be speaking his or her thoughts
aloud, directly addressing another
character...It is distinct from a soliloquy,
which is where a character relates his or
her thoughts and feelings to him/herself
and to the audience without addressing
any of the other characters.
HOW TO READ A MONOLOGUE
Break the monologue into sections and
work on transitioning between sections.
 Memorize your monologue. Practice it over
and over again.
 Practice it for someone else. Make
adjustments based on their feedback
 Use a prop if appropriate but make sure it
doesn’t take away from your speech

Project your voice in the space. Block out
your audience, but make sure they can
hear you.
 Act as if your surroundings are real and
really there. Ex: if you are supposed to be
watching someone, “track” them with
your eyes, even if they are actually
invisible.
 Move around as appropriate. Don’t just
stand there in one spot.


Willy often has "internal monologues"
where he imagines he is talking, most
often, with his brother Ben. Seen by Willie
to as a highly successful man, mining
diamonds in Africa and buying large tracts
of open land, Willy carries on his
conversations, or monologues, with his
brother, who is now deceased.

Willy's discussions are not truly directed to
himself or the audience, but to another
character, even if imaginary; he carries on
entire conversations, providing both sides
of the discussion. So 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...