S

Writing a Monologue

What is a Monologue?

S  a speech by a single character

Who can the character talk to?

S  Another character (or group of characters)

S  Him/Herself

S  The audience

Who is Alice talking to?

ALICE IN WONDERLAND by Lewis Carroll

S  ALICE: [Angrily] Why, how impolite of him. I asked him a civil question, and he pretended not to hear me. That's not at all nice. [Calling after him] I say, Mr. White Rabbit, where are you going? Hmmm. He won't answer me. And I do so want to know what he is late for. I wonder if I might follow him. Why not? There's no rule that I mayn't go where I please. I--I will follow him…. I must be getting somewhere near the center of the earth. I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth! How funny that would be. Oh, I think I see the bottom. Yes, I'm sure I see the bottom. I shall hit the bottom, hit it very hard, and oh, how it will hurt!

Who is Mabel talking to?

AN IDEAL HUSBAND by Oscar Wilde

S  MABEL CHILTERN: Well, Tommy has proposed to me again. Tommy really does nothing but propose to me. He proposed to me last night in the music-room, when I was quite unprotected, as there was an elaborate trio going on…. I wish, Gertrude, you would speak to him, and tell him that once a week is quite often enough to propose to any one, and that it should always be done in a manner that attracts some attention.

Who is the Man talking to?

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE by Bob Martin & Don McKellar

S  MAN: Now, let’s visualize. Imagine if you will, it’s November 1928. You’ve just arrived at the doors of the Morosco Theatre in New York. It doesn’t exist anymore. It was torn down in 1982, and replaced with an enormous hotel. Unforgivable. Anyway, you came by horse. I mean, a horse drawn carriage. You weren’t actually riding the horse. Anyway, it’s very cold and a heavy grey sleet is falling from the sky but you don’t care because you’re going to see a Broadway show! Listen!

WHERE TO START

S  Who is your character talking to?

S  What is your character’s… S  Objective?

S  Motivation?

S  Obstacle?

S  Tactic? (NOTE: You can have more than one!)

Example: David

1.  Who is the character speaking to?

2.  What is the character’s objective?

3.  What is the character’s motivation?

4.  What is the character’s obstacle?

5.  What are the character’s tactics?

Example: Tracy

1.  Who is the character speaking to?

2.  What is the character’s objective?

3.  What is the character’s motivation?

4.  What is the character’s obstacle?

5.  What are the character’s tactics?

Time to write your own! Periods 1-6

S  STEP 1: Create an original character in your head, and figure out what that character has to say and why they have to say it.

S  STEP 2: On a sheet of paper, answer the following questions: 1.  Who is your character (who are you)?

2.  Who is your character talking to?

3.  What is your character’s objective?

4.  What is your character’s motivation?

5.  What is your character’s obstacle?

6.  What is/are your character’s tactic(s)?

S  STEP 3: Write a 30-60 second monologue as your character (time yourself as you go!) that communicates all of the above items.

Time to write your own! 7th period

S  STEP 1: Create an original character in your head, and fill out the “Character Development Sketch” to give him/her a personality.

S  STEP 2: On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions: 1.  Who is your character (who are you)?

2.  Who is your character talking to?

3.  What is your character’s objective?

4.  What is your character’s motivation?

5.  What is your character’s obstacle?

6.  What is/are your character’s tactic(s)?

S  STEP 3: Write a 30-60 second monologue as your character (time yourself as you go!) that communicates all of the above items.

NEXT STEP (Just so you know what’s coming!)

S  You will perform your monologue! You will be graded on: S  Voice

S  Physical Character

S  Communication of Objective / Motivation / Obstacle / Tactic(s)

S  Focus & Concentration (Staying in character)

S  Memorization

S  Tech (costume, props, set pieces/backdrop, etc.)