Monologue - GCSE English Literature Definition

What is a monologue?

In GCSE English Literature, a monologue is a lengthy speech delivered by a single character in a piece of literature, where they express their thoughts and feelings directly to the audience or listener.

Why do writers use monologues?

Writers use monologues to reveal a character's personality, motivations, desires or internal conflict. It also creates a level of intimacy between the speaker and the reader or audience, because the words spoken in a monologue are not heard by other characters. Monologues most often feature in plays, but whole poems can be written as dramatic monologues, for example Robert Browning's 'My Last Duchess'.

Example of a monologue

Shakespeare often featured monologues in his plays, and one of the most quoted is the soliloquy delivered by Hamlet in Act 1, Scene 3, often referred to by its famous line “To bе or not to bе, that is thе quеstion”. Here, Hamlet reveals his innermost troubles directly to the audience: he is questioning the futility of life, and whether or not it would be better if he were dead.

Revision resources to ace your exams

Learn how to explore and analyse a writer’s use of monologues by using our detailed GCSE revision notes.

GCSE English Literature Revision Notes

For more literary techniques, check out our list of 127 top literary devices, complete with student-friendly definitions.