Dramatic Monologues

• English
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)
• GCSE

Introductie

Creative writing lesson on Dramatic Monologues. Covers a variety of monolgues and involves opportunities for learners to write their own pieces. Inspiration comes from a variety of sources here - it will be a fun lesson!

Writing Reviews

Dramatic Monologues

Creative Writing 

English Language and Literature

Welcome to this lesson on monologues! I hope you and your learners find it useful!

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How do they feel?

What's happened?

Who do you think this person is?

When did this happen?

What's going to happen next?

Who do you think this person is?

AI generated image to inspire ideas that will feed in to the lesson later. You may not want to use all of these.

You can drag the submitted points to the right are if you want to!

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How do they feel?

What's happened?

Who do you think this person is?

When did this happen?

What's going to happen next?

Who do you think this person is?

AI generated image to inspire ideas that will feed in to the lesson later. You may not want to use all of these.

?

How do they feel?

What's happened?

Who do you think this person is?

When did this happen?

What's going to happen next?

Who do you think this person is?

AI generated image to inspire ideas that will feed in to the lesson later. You may not want to use all of these.

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• By the end of the lesson, you will understand the features of dramatic monologues
• Explore different styles
• Create your own dramatic monologue.

Lesson Aims

Aims and objectives - feel free to adjust these.

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There are several varieties of Dramatic Monologue, with their own sub categories!

Dramatic Monologues

POEM

As a poem, a dramatic monologue takes the form of a typically longer poem that is written from the perspective of a particular character. A writer can draw on poetic techniques to create a sense of character and the events they describe.

NARRATIVE MONOLOGUE

The speaker recounts a story or event.

Combines character revelation with plot exposition.

Example: Coleridge’s "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."

SOLILOQUY

Soliloquy

The speaker is alone or believes they are alone.

Expresses inner thoughts, feelings, or conflicts.

Example: Hamlet’s "To be or not to be" (Hamlet by Shakespeare).

ADDRESS TO A SILENT LISTENER

The speaker addresses an implied audience who does not respond.

Often reveals more about the speaker than intended.

Example: Browning’s "My Last Duchess."

CONFESSIONAL

The speaker reveals a secret, guilt, or personal conflict.

Often creates tension through the disclosure.

Example: "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot.

PERSUASIVE MONOLOGUE

The speaker tries to convince or manipulate the listener(s).

Common in political or villainous contexts.

Example: Antony’s "Friends, Romans, countrymen" (Julius Caesar by Shakespeare).

INTERIOR MONOLOGUE

A stream-of-consciousness style reflecting unspoken thoughts.

Often fragmented or non-linear.

Example: Molly Bloom’s soliloquy in Ulysses by James Joyce.

This slide may work better as 'share with students' so they can read and discover for themselves.

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Dramatic Monologues

Watch the  monologue you've been allocated and answer the questions. Be prepared to feed back. 

1. Video number?

2. Is the character alone yes/no? How does it affect your response?

3. Do you trust what the character is saying? Why? Why not?

4. What makes the character's voice distinctive? How do you think the writer has done this?

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You can use the spinner to allocate a monologue to a group. You can either share the screen so learners can watch themselves or play each video to the whole group. This may alter depending on the use of the next slide.

What makes the character's voice distinctive? How do you think the writer has done this?

Do you trust what the character is saying? Why? Why not?

Is the character alone yes/no? How does it affect your response?

Answer the questions: A, B, or C. Put the letter first in your answers!

The idea is that the video plays for the whole class, and the group who focused on this can submit their analysis. The contributors need to label each submission so it can be dragged to the right part of the screen.

What makes the character's voice distinctive? How do you think the writer has done this?

Do you trust what the character is saying? Why? Why not?

Is the character alone yes/no? How does it affect your response?

or C. Put the letter first in your answers!

The idea is that the video plays for the whole class, and the group who focused on this can submit their analysis. The contributors need to label each submission so it can be dragged to the right part of the screen.

What makes the character's voice distinctive? How do you think the writer has done this?

Do you trust what the character is saying? Why? Why not?

Is the character alone yes/no? How does it affect your response?

Wha or C. Put the letter first in your answers!

The idea is that the video plays for the whole class, and the group who focused on this can submit their analysis. The contributors need to label each submission so it can be dragged to the right part of the screen.

What makes the character's voice distinctive? How do you think the writer has done this?

Do you trust what the character is saying? Why? Why not?

Is the character alone yes/no? How does it affect your response?

or C. Put the letter first in your answers!

The idea is that the video plays for the whole class, and the group who focused on this can submit their analysis. The contributors need to label each submission so it can be dragged to the right part of the screen.

What are the key features of dramatic monologues? Include any literary and linguistic techniques you have noticed.

What are the key features of dramatic monologues? Include any literary and linguistic techniques you have noticed.

Mind Map/Word Cloud drawing together everything worked on so far.

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Write Your Own Dramatic Monologue

Write a monologue about your allocated character. It should be from their perspective. Think about if they are talking to the audience or in the presence of other characters. Use your creativity and writing skills to create an engaging piece. Give them a distinct voice.

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QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU WRITE:

Who is this person? What's their name? What are their hopes and fears? How are you going to give them a distinct voice? What kind of world do they live in? Who do they know, love or hate? What are they like as a person?

The spinner here is optional - use the pictures to inspire creative writing.

Obviously learners are not going to be able to write a whole monologue - it's just about having a go, see what manifests....

You may wish to adjust the timer to suit the needs of your class.

Upload your monologues here

Upload your monologues here

Learners can upload their monologues here.

Which character do you want to know more about?

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Which character do you want to know more about?

A fun interactive activity to counterpoint the intensity of the writing actiity. Just to change the pace and encourage discussion.

For the highest ranking poll character: what about the writing made you want to know more? What made the monologue effective?

For the highest ranking poll character: what about the writing made you want to know more? What made the monologue effective?

Log the results of the discussion here.

Which work features a narrative monologue?

Which work features a narrative monologue?

1. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
2. Hamlet
3. Ulysses
4. My Last Duchess

It's quiz time!

What type of monologue attempts to persuade?

What type of monologue attempts to persuade?

1. Interior Monologue
2. Persuasive Monologue
3. Soliloquy
4. Narrative Monologue

It's quiz time!

Which poem features a confessional monologue?

Which poem features a confessional monologue?

1. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
2. My Last Duchess
3. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
4. To be or not to be

It's quiz time!

What type of monologue addresses an implied audience?

What type of monologue addresses an implied audience?

1. Address to a Silent Listener
2. Confessional
3. Interior Monologue
4. Persuasive Monologue

It's quiz time!

What does a soliloquy express?

What does a soliloquy express?

1. Dialogue with another character
2. A persuasive argument
3. Inner thoughts and feelings
4. Plot exposition

What new thing did you learn today?

What new thing did you learn about dramatic monolgues today?

Low stakes opportunity for learners to find out anything they're unsure of. 

Ask about something you want to know more about

Ask one question about something you want to know more about

Low stakes opportunity for learners to find out anything they're unsure of.