Key Characteristics:
* Single Speaker: Only one person speaks throughout the monologue.
* Extended Length: It's a longer speech compared to a simple line or two of dialogue.
* Purpose: Monologues are used to reveal a character's thoughts, feelings, motivations, and inner world.
Types of Monologues:
* Dramatic Monologue: A poem or a speech in a play delivered by a single character, often addressing a silent listener. The character reveals their emotions, thoughts, and motivations. (Example: "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot)
* Interior Monologue: A stream-of-consciousness style of writing that presents the unfiltered thoughts and feelings of a character. (Example: "Ulysses" by James Joyce)
* Soliloquy: A speech given by a character alone on stage, revealing their innermost thoughts and feelings. (Example: Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy in Shakespeare's Hamlet)
* Aside: A brief remark made by a character directly to the audience, usually revealing their thoughts or secrets. (Example: Many asides in Shakespearean plays.)
Examples in Popular Culture:
* Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy in Shakespeare's Hamlet is a classic example of a dramatic monologue.
* The opening scene of "Fight Club" features a character giving a lengthy monologue about their disillusionment with modern life.
* The "I'm Spartacus" scene in the movie "Spartacus" features a powerful monologue where multiple characters claim to be Spartacus to protect their leader.
In short, a monologue is a powerful literary device that allows a character to express themselves fully and reveals crucial aspects of their personality and motivations.