Monologue

What is Monologue?

Mono – one or single

Logue- conversation
Monologue also means:
 Is used to explain character’s plans,
problems, or motivation that helps in the plot
of the story.

 Is presented by a single character, most often to express

their mental thoughts aloud, though sometimes to directly
address another character or the audience.
Types of Monologues

 Interior Monologues – involve a character

externalizing their thoughts so that the audience
can witness experiences that would otherwise be
mostly internal.
- Shows character’s unspoken thoughts
- show characters private dilemma
- Reveal character’s self perception/ self talk
Types of Monologues

 Dramatic Monologues – simply involve often a character

telling a story and can be often be identified by the fact
that they are in the past tense, have a bottom ending.

 Monologues can also be divided along the lines of active

and narrative monologues. In active monologue a
character is using their speech to achieve goals.
WRITING THE
MONOLOGUE
A. START THE MONOLOGUE WITH A
HOOK
 Your monologue should get the listeners’
attention right away and draw them in. You
want to hook your audience so they are willing
to listen to your character’s monologue.
 The opening line of the monologue will set
the tone for the rest of the piece and gives the
audience a sense of the character voice’s and
language.
B. USE YOU CHARACTER’S VOICE AND
LANGUAGE
 The monologue should be written from the
perspective of one character and should feature
their unique language and voice.

 A strong character voice in a monologue can go a

long way to adding color, interest, and perspective
to the piece.
C. ALLOW YOUR CHARACTER TO
REFLECT ON THE PAST AND THE
PRESENT
 Monologues discuss the present action of the play by
reflecting back on the past events. You should strive to
have a balance between reflection on the past and
discussion of the present in your monologue.
 The past details should illuminate an event or
character dilemma in the present. The character
should try to use memory to address an issue in the
present.
D. ADD DESCRIPTION AND DETAIL.

 Keep in mind your audience will not have the

luxury of flipping to a visual image of what is
happening in the monologue. All they can
rely on is the words you use in the
,monologue to describe a certain moment or a
certain detail.
E. INCLUDE A MOMENT OF
DISCOVERY

 Your monologue should include a moment of

discovery or an revelation. This could be a
moment of discovery for the speaker or a
moment of discovery for the audience.
Having revelation in the monologue will give
it purpose
F. HAVE A BUTTON ENDING.
 The monologue should have a clear ending or a button
ending where the thoughts are expressed in the monologue
are brought to a conclusion.

 The speaker should accept something, overcome an issue

or obstacles, or make a decision about the conflict in the
play. The decision moment should be clear and the speaker
should speak with decisive action by the end of the
monologue
 G. READ THE MONOLOGUE ALOUD
 A monologue is written to be read out loud to
an audience so you should test its
effectiveness by reading it out to yourself or
to a sympathetic audience.
 You should listen to ensure the monologue
has a distict character voice and uses
language that suits the speaker.
RUBRIC FOR WRITTEN
MONOLOGUE
 CREATE
A student create and conceptualize a
variety of different characters and
stories
(10 points)
___student can thoughtfully create a
character or story using objective,
motivation and tactic with the support of
the teacher,
(10 points)
__student can thoughtfully create a
character or story using objective,
motivation and tactic that has an
emotional/meaningful impact on an
audience.
( 10 points)
TOTAL:
COMMUNICATE
Students refine their ability to
communicate point of view and
personal growth
(10 points)
_____Student can independently a
communicate a clear point of view or
describe their own personal growth
through writing or speaking.
(10 points)
___Student can independently a
communicate a clear point of view or
describe their own personal growth that
can be seen through reflective writing.
(10 points)
RUBRIC FOR
DELIVERING
MONOLOGUE