January 5, 2016

Creative English

Lesson One: What is a monologue?

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 What is a monologue?
A monologue is a speech delivered by one
person, who exposes inner thoughts and
provides insights into his or her character.

The character/person speaks out their

thoughts about a specific event or situation
and tells us how they are feeling at that
particular time.

Monologues are always written in first person

(I think/I feel).

The Greek root word monologos

translates to “speaking alone,” and that's a
monologue: one person doing all the talking.

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 What do you notice about how this
character is speaking?
• Click on Syndrome to
watch him speak in a
series of monologues to
Mr. Incredible

• Listen for:
– his attitude (tone)
– his use of long and short
sentences
– Listen for punctuation.
(! ? … --)

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 Syndrome’s Monologue
See? Now you respect me, because
I’m a threat. That’s the way it works.
Turns out, there are a lot of people,
whole countries, who want respect,
and they will pay through the nose to
get it. How do you think I got rich? I
WHO is he speaking to? invented weapons, and now I have a
weapon that only I can defeat, and
WHAT is it that he wants? when I unleash it, I’ll get… You sly
dog! You got me monologuing! I can’t
What is he FEELING at this believe it. It’s cool, huh? Zero-point
point? energy. I save the best inventions for
myself. Am I good enough now?
Who’s super now? I’m Syndrome,
your nemesis and…Oh, brilliant.

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 Syndrome’s Monologue
See? Now you respect me, because
I’m a threat. That’s the way it works.
Underline a question.
Turns out, there are a lot of people,
whole countries, who want respect,
and they will pay through the nose to
Circle the punctuation that tells you get it. How do you think I got rich? I
his stream-of-thought has been invented weapons, and now I have a
interrupted. weapon that only I can defeat, and
when I unleash it, I’ll get… You sly
dog! You got me monologuing! I can’t
Highlight a sentence that tells you believe it. It’s cool, huh? Zero-point
he is feeling vengeful.* energy. I save the best inventions for
myself. Am I good enough now?
Who’s super now? I’m Syndrome,
your nemesis and…Oh, brilliant.
*vengeful=seeking revenge and/or to harm
someone because of a past injury

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 Let’s look at another…

As you have noticed, a monologue occurs when a character is feeling

passionate about a situation or an idea. We say this is when “the stakes are
high.” When a character feels they have something to lose or win, their
emotions grow much stronger.

In this monologue from “Pirates of the Caribbean 3,” Elisabeth must rouse
the pirates, who are about to give up, into fighting an impossible enemy.

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 But wait...
The best way to understand a monologue is to determine its CONTEXT. This will help us
understand what they are saying and why.

CHARACTER: Who is speaking?

AUDIENCE: Who are they speaking to?

SETTING: Where are they?

GOAL: What do they want to see

happen?

Glossary

context: the
circumstances
surrounding a situation
(the facts)
LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue
 Elisabeth’s Monologue
Then, what shall we die for? You will
listen to me! Listen! (stares into their
eyes) The Brethren will still be looking
here, to us, to the Black Pearl, to lead.
And what will they see? Frightened
CHARACTER: Who is speaking?
bilge rats aboard a derelict ship? No.
No, they will see free men and AUDIENCE: Who is she speaking to?
freedom! And what the enemy will
see is the flash of our cannons. They SETTING: Where are they?
will hear the ring of our swords, and
they will know what we can do. By GOAL: What does she want to see
the sweat of our brows and the happen?
strength of our backs, and the
courage of our hearts. Gentlemen.
Hoist the colors!

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 Ingredients of a Dramatic Monologue
• After you have established: 1. Stage Directions
–Character
–Setting
–Audience 2. Repetition
–Goal
3. Imagery and metaphor
There are five elements you
must include when writing
your own monologues: 4. Pause and silence

5. Changes of tone (attitude)

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 Elisabeth’s Monologue
Then, what shall we die for? You will Highlight the phrase or sentence that
listen to me! Listen! (stares into their matches each of the following:
eyes) The Brethren will still be looking
here, to us, to the Black Pearl, to lead.
And what will they see? Frightened 1. Stage Directions
bilge rats aboard a derelict ship? No.
No, they will see free men and 2. Repetition
freedom! And what the enemy will
see is the flash of our cannons. They 3. Imagery and metaphor
will hear the ring of our swords, and
they will know what we can do. By
the sweat of our brows and the 4. Pause and silence
strength of our backs, and the
courage of our hearts. Gentlemen. 5. Changes of tone (attitude)
Hoist the colors!

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 Elisabeth’s Monologue
Then, what shall we die for? You will Highlight the phrase or sentence that
listen to me! Listen! (stares into their matches each of the following:
eyes) The Brethren will still be looking
here, to us, to the Black Pearl, to lead.
(Pause) And what will they see? 1. Stage Directions
Frightened bilge rats aboard a derelict
ship? No. No, they will see free men 2. Repetition
and freedom! And what the enemy
will see is the flash of our cannons. 3. Imagery and metaphor
They will hear the ring of our swords,
and they will know what we can do.
By the sweat of our brows and the 4. Pause and silence
strength of our backs, and the
courage of our hearts. Gentlemen. 5. Changes of tone (attitude)
Hoist the colors!

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 Let’s look at a longer
example.

WHO is speaking?

Who are they speaking TO?

WHAT is the character

feeling? (at the beginning
and the end)

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 Main Task
• Choosing one of the three
monologues studies
today, fill in the “Mini
Monologue Planning
sheet”

• In addition to the five

ingredients, it is
important to know WHY
the character is delivering
this monologue.

LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective dramatic monologue

 Homework
• Finish mini monologue
planning sheet

• Brainstorm 3 different
characters/situations
you could write a
monologue for:
–ex. teenager sneaking in
past curfew
–ex. Batman in a support
group for retired
superheroes
January 10, 2016 LO: To determine the ingredients of an effective monologue