Soliloquy & Monologue

Yulistiyanti, SS., M.Hum.

11/12/21 @DLC-UNISBANK
 Soliloquy - Convention

• Soliloquy allows the dramatic figure to think aloud and talk itself.
• In dramatic convention, soliloquy is a normal form of communicative
behaviour.
• Soliloquy is used to compesate for the absence of this mediating
communication system in drama.

11/12/21 @DLC-UNISBANK
 Soliloquy - Functions

• 1. as a vehicle to transmit information on previous or future events in

concentrated form
• 2. to reveal the figure’s consciousness and to enable the audience to
participate in its silent thought process
• 3. to form a bridge between two separates scenes, then to anticipate
the break in the action caused by the empty stage

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 Monologue

• Monologue contains longer utterances.

• Monological tendency in dialogue can occur in drama. It means that a
dialogue may contain monologue.
• Monological tendency in dialogue can be the result of disrupted
communication because the dialogue partner physically or
psychologically is unwilling to communicate.

11/12/21 @DLC-UNISBANK
 Exercise

• Study the following excerpt of Edward Albee’s The Sandbox on page 3.

• Grandma: Ah-haaaaaa! Graaaaaa! (looks for reactions ; gets none. Now...directly
to the audience) Honestly! What a treat to an old woman! Drag her out of the
house...stick her in a car...bring her out here from the city...dump her in a pile of
sand...leave her here to set. I’m eighty-six years old! I was married when I was
seventeen. To a farmer. He died when I was thirty. (To the musician) Will you
stop that, please? ( The Musician stop playing). I’m a feeble old woman...How do
you expect anybody to hear me over the peep! Peep!peep! (to herself). There’s
no respect around here. (To the young man) There’s no respect around here!
Does the excerpt above include monologue or soliloquy? Write your argument.
Answer in forum this week.

11/12/21 @DLC-UNISBANK
 Thank You

11/12/21 @DLC-UNISBANK