monologue
The monologue ( Greek μόνος mónos , German 'alone' , and Greek λόγιον lógion , German '[Aus] Spruch' , see -log ; Latin Soliloquium ) is, in contrast to dialogue, a self-talk and is mainly used in drama . It is not aimed directly at a listener, but at an imaginary person. In fact, the audience is the addressee of the monologue. A special form of the monologue is the inner monologue in narrative prose.
The term monologue also describes a speech that is worded as if it were not addressed to a listener or interlocutor.
Often it is not used to describe everyday self-talk, but the conscious use of speaking alone, in art , especially in theater and literature , together with gestures . There, the monologue is often used to convey a person's thoughts and mental processes audibly or legibly to the outside world and thus to make them clear to viewers or readers.
In many plays, monologues form a dramatic climax or mark a turning point in the plot. A well-known example is the Hamlet soliloquy from Shakespeare .
In English , French and other languages, an important special form of monologue is distinguished in literary studies. This special form is called (English) Soliloquy and in drama - in contrast to the monologue - does not allow listeners. In a way, it's mostly dramatic self-talk.
Literary works
Literary works published under the title monologue or in monologue form:
- Self-contemplations , Mark Aurel
- Soliloquien, Augustine
- Monologues, Friedrich Schleiermacher
- Gitte's monologue , Per Højholt
- Macedonia , Werner Hammerschick
- Siberia , Felix Mitterer
- The double bass , a play in the form of a monologue by Patrick Süskind
- Monologue by a victim , story by Rolf Bongs
Famous monologues of world literature
- “ To be or not to be, that is the question ”, Hamlet's monologue in Hamlet , Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare
- Doctor Faust's monologue in Faust. A tragedy by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe :
I have now, ah! Philosophy,
jurisprudence and medicine,
and unfortunately also theology,
studied with ardent effort.
Here I stand, poor fool!
And am as smart as before;
hot masters, hot doctor even,
and I've been pulling
up, down and across and crooked
my pupils by the nose -
and see that we can know nothing!
That just wants to burn my heart ...