The Tempest

The Tempest by William Shakespeare is a captivating play that weaves magic, betrayal, love, and
redemption. In the iconic Tragedy comedy, you can find soliloquies, monologues, dialogues as well as
various other types of dramatic speeches that showcase a range of emotions and themes.

1. Soliloquy:
A soliloquy is when a character in a dramatic work speaks directly to the audience, expressing
their inner thoughts. A soliloquy is a literary device that allows audience members to know what a
character thinks or believes, providing an audience a way to better understand a character.
Example: where Ariel, Act 1, Scene 2: the magical spirit, delivers a powerful soliloquy:
“To every article.
boarded the king's ship; now on the beak,
Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin,
I flamed amazement: sometime I'ld divide,
And burn in many places; on the topmast,
The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,
Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors
O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary
And sight-outrunning were not; the fire and cracks
Of sulphurous roaring the mightiest Neptune
Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble,
Yea, his dread trident shake.

In this soliloquy, Ariel recounts the awe-inspiring display of power during the tempest that sets
the events of the play in motion. The vivid imagery and magical elements make it a memorable
moment in Shakespeare’s masterpiece.

2. Monologue
A monologue is a lengthy speech given by one character in theatrical work, movie, or literary
work. Monologues are addressed to other characters in the literary work. There is no back and
forth banter that is seen in dialogue, and there is no action during the monologue.
Example: Act I, Scene 2
Prospero:
"My brother and thy uncle, call’d Antonio—
I pray thee, mark me—that a brother should
Be so perfidious!—he whom next thyself
Of all the world I loved and to him put
The manage of my state; as at that time
Through all the signories it was the first
And Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed
In dignity, and for the liberal arts
Without a parallel; those being all my study,
The government I cast upon my brother
And to my state grew stranger, being transported
And rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle—
Dost thou attend me?

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3. Dialogue
Dialogue is the exchange of spoken words between two or more characters in a book, play, or
other written work.
Example: Act 1, Scene 1
A tempestuous ship caught in a violent storm.
Boatswain: (To the mariners) “Heigh, my hearts! Cheerly, cheerly, my hearts! Yare, yare! Take in
the topsail. Tend to the’ Master’s whistle. —Blow till thou burst thy wind, if room enough!”
Alonso: (The king of Naples) “Good boatswain, have care. Where’s the Master?”
Boatswain: “I pray now, keep below.”
Antonio: (Prospero’s brother) “Where is the Master, boatswain?”
Boatswain: “Do you not hear him? You mar our labor. Keep your cabins. You do assist the
storm.”
Gonzalo: “Nay, good, be patient.”
Boatswain: “When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers for the name of king? To cabin!
Silence! Trouble us not.”
Gonzalo: “Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.”
Boatswain: “None that I more love than myself. You are a councilor; if you can command these
elements to silence, and work the peace of the present, we will not hand a rope more. Use your
authority. If you cannot, give thanks you have lived so long, and make yourself ready in your
cabin for the mischance of the hour, if it so hap. —Cheerly, good hearts! —Out of our way, I
say!”

4. Aside
An aside is a dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience. By convention, the
audience is to realize that the character's speech is unheard by the other characters on stage. It
may be addressed to the audience expressly (in character or out) or represent an unspoken
thought.
Example: Act 1, Scene 2:
Antonio: (Speaking to Sebastian, his brother) “I am right glad that he’s so out of hope.
Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose
That you resolved to effect.”
Sebastian: (Aside, speaking to the audience) “The next advantage
Will we take thoroughly.”

In this aside, Sebastian secretly expresses his intention to continue their plot against the king.
The aside allows the audience to glimpse his true motives while keeping other characters
unaware.

Prepared by: Yeabsira Demis

Grade&Section:10B

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