Features of the monologue style in Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads

In the Talking Heads monologues, the speech the characters use is designed to mimic that

of everyday conversation.

Remember that spoken English differs from written English; sentences are put together in

a different way, and people use different kinds of words.

Here are some examples from Miss Ruddock’s monologue, A Lady of Letters

By repeating simple verbs, Alan Bennett (the playwright) manages to imitate spoken English:

Patricia Routledge’s performance emphasises the repeated ‘said’ by talking quickly, imitating the fast pace of the exchange she has with the vicar

and later, the policeman.

I said, ‘What’s this?’ he said ‘A cross.’ I said, ‘A cross doesn’t mean anything…’

Another example:

‘I said, ‘What letters? I don’t write letters.’ He said, ‘Letters.’ I said, ‘Everyone writes letters. I bet you write letters.’ He said ‘Not like you,

love’. I said ‘Don’t love me…’

In modern speech, you might hear something similar to the following:

And he was like, ‘What did you do that for?’ And I was like, ‘I’m so sorry!’ So he was like, ‘Don’t worry about it’…

Another feature of spoken English is mixing up the past and present tenses, for example:

It turns out it’s to do with the couple opposite. I said…

The first part is present tense, the second part in the past tense

He hadn’t been gone long when there’s another knock…

This part is past tense (had not been gone long) This part is present tense (there is a knock)

Bennet also uses sentences that have their subject missing, for example –

And –

Takes his helmet off.

Which should read, ‘He takes his helmet off’

Ask if they can come in and have a word

Technically, this sentence should read ‘They ask if they can come in…’

Bennett also uses

Heads (the subject of the sentence stuck at the beginning like a title)

Vicars, they think if you’re a single person…

Tails (the subject of a sentence stuck on like an afterthought)

And they want fresh air, do kiddies

We also hear short, simple sentences, like this:

Came round anyway. Not the old vicar. I’d have known him.

And this:

Sits, talks. She’s right enough. Said I’d be useful in India

We also hear sentences beginning with words like “Well…”, “Anyway..” and “So…”that people use to start things off when they’re talking

Anyway, we’re in her sitting room…

Well, you can get on to your MP for a start…

So then madam takes over, the understanding approach…

Hope this has been useful! Remember, the examples given here are all quotes from the text, so feel free

to use them in your essay writing.