What term is defined as a monologue given by an actor in which he or she reveals his or her innermost thoughts the audience?

Answer 1

That is called a soliloquy, I should know, we were studying Shakespeare in English.

Richard III

Now is the winter of our discontent

Made glorious summer by the son of York

And all the clouds that loured upon our house

In the deep bosom of the ocean buried

Those are the 1st 4 lines of a soliloquy.

Richard III

Give me another horse! Bind up my wounds!

Have mercy, Jesu! Soft, I did but dream.

First 2 lines from another soliloquy.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

You are thinking about a soliloquy, which was not invented by Shakespeare but was certainly developed by him. Shakespeare's early soliloquys and those written by his contemporaries tend to be inserted to explain the status of the character, and perhaps his hidden motives. Shakespeare developed the form so that it reflected what the character was thinking (not feeling so much), and also the process of the character's thought. An excellent example is Macbeth's "If it were done when it is done, then 'twere well it were done quickly" where he runs through the possible risks and benefits to murdering Duncan, and concludes that ambition is not a good enough reason to proceed. Or again, Hamlet's "Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I" in which, half way through, he says "About, my brains!" and challenges himself to think of a solution to his problem, which he does.

Answer 3

These Nuts

Answer 4

Soliloquy