THEME 6 MAPPING MILESTONES Focus on ... soliloquies
A soliloquy is a speech in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud when alone or without addressing anyone.
The word ‘soliloquy’ comes from the Latin solus (alone) and loqui (speak). In drama, soliloquies give the audience insight into the thoughts and feelings of a character. The character may not be alone on stage, but the other characters will not be able to hear the soliloquy as it is used to represent the speaker’s inner thoughts.
Discuss 1. What type of revelations do you imagine could come from a soliloquy?
2. Why do you think it is important that the other players on the stage are unable to hear a soliloquy?
3. If Shakespeare had not included soliloquies in his plays, do you think this would change our understanding of them?
4. Can you think of other examples of soliloquies in plays that you have read or watched? What did this soliloquy reveal to the audience?
Understand
1. What reason does Brutus give for why he must kill Caesar? 2. According to Brutus, why would you need to be careful walking in the daytime? 3. What does Brutus say could happen to Caesar if they crown him?
4. According to Brutus, what can happen to young men when they reach the top of the ladder?
5. At the end of the soliloquy, what does Brutus compare Caesar to and how does he say this should be dealt with?
Explore 3 1. What does this soliloquy reveal about the character of Brutus?
2. If you were playing Brutus, what tone would you use when speaking these words? Would your tone change at all throughout the soliloquy? Explain your answer.
3. Choose a play that you have studied in which a soliloquy exposed the private thoughts of a character.
(a) Name the play, the playwright and the character. (b) What private thoughts does the character reveal in their soliloquy? (c) Explain how the revelations in this soliloquy added to your enjoyment of the play.
