 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009) |
A soliloquy is a literary device often used in drama whereby a character relates his or her thoughts without addressing any of the other characters.[1] Soliloquy is distinct from monologue and aside.
To "soliloquise" can mean to recite a soliloquy or to talk to oneself.
Soliloquys are similar to a monologue; where and when an actor is talking about something to no-one in particular.
Soliloquies were frequently used in poetic dramas; dramas in prose use a more realistic speaking style and rarely if ever feature them. The plays of William Shakespeare feature many soliloquies. The "To be or not to be" speech in Hamlet is perhaps the most famous one in the English language. Macbeth's "Tomorrow and tomorrow" speech and Juliet's "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" are other famous examples of Shakespearean soliloquies (although Juliet's speech is overheard by Romeo).
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
