Dramatic monologue | What is dramatic monologue? Dramatic Monologue poem examples | My Last Duchess

Practical Learning

13 Mar 202304:07

Summary

TLDRThis video explains the concept of a dramatic monologue, a form of poetry where a character, not the poet, delivers a speech. Derived from the Greek word 'monologos,' meaning 'single speech,' this type of poem features a single speaker addressing a silent listener. The speaker shares their thoughts, feelings, or experiences. Examples of dramatic monologues include 'My Last Duchess' by Robert Browning and 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' by T.S. Eliot. The video further discusses the characteristics of this form, including its narrative style and focus on a solitary speaker.

Takeaways

📚 The term 'monologue' is derived from the Greek words 'mono' (single) and 'logos' (speech), meaning 'single speech.'
📝 A dramatic monologue is a specific type of poem where a single person, not the poet, speaks.
🧑‍🎤 The Victorian poet Robert Browning coined the term 'dramatic monologue' in the 19th century.
🗣️ In a dramatic monologue, the speaker is a character created by the poet, delivering a speech to an imagined listener.
🧍 One key characteristic of a dramatic monologue is having a single speaker expressing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
📖 Another characteristic is the narrative style, where the speaker tells a story or recounts experiences.
👥 The speaker in a dramatic monologue addresses a silent or imagined listener, who doesn't respond.
🖼️ 'My Last Duchess' by Robert Browning is a famous example of a dramatic monologue, where a Duke discusses a portrait of his late wife with a visitor.
💔 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' by T.S. Eliot is another example, revealing the speaker's innermost thoughts and feelings through a monologue.
🔑 Dramatic monologues reveal the speaker's personal feelings and experiences through their speech, making it a distinct poetic form.

Q & A

What is the origin of the word 'monologue'?
-The word 'monologue' is derived from the Greek word 'monologos,' which combines 'mono' (meaning single or alone) and 'logos' (meaning speech).
Who coined the term 'dramatic monologue'?
-The term 'dramatic monologue' was coined by Victorian poet Robert Browning in the 19th century.
How is a dramatic monologue different from other types of poems?
-A dramatic monologue differs from other poems because it involves a single speaker (a character created by the poet) who delivers a speech to an imagined listener, rather than the poet speaking directly.
What is the definition of a dramatic monologue?
-A dramatic monologue is a type of poem in which a single person, not the poet, speaks, often to an imagined listener, and reveals their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
What are the key characteristics of a dramatic monologue?
-The key characteristics of a dramatic monologue are: (1) a single speaker who expresses their thoughts and feelings, (2) a narrative style in which the speaker recounts their experiences, and (3) the speaker addresses a silent, often imaginary listener.
What is the role of the speaker in a dramatic monologue?
-The speaker in a dramatic monologue is a character created by the poet who expresses their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, often addressing a silent listener.
Can you provide an example of a dramatic monologue?
-An example of a dramatic monologue is 'My Last Duchess' by Robert Browning, where a Duke discusses a portrait of his late wife with a visitor.
What is the speaker discussing in 'My Last Duchess' by Robert Browning?
-In 'My Last Duchess,' the speaker, a Duke, is discussing the portrait and the death of his late wife with a visitor.
What is another famous example of a dramatic monologue?
-Another famous example of a dramatic monologue is 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' by T.S. Eliot, where the character J. Alfred Prufrock reveals his innermost thoughts and feelings.
What makes 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' a dramatic monologue?
-It is considered a dramatic monologue because the speaker, J. Alfred Prufrock, delivers a monologue that reveals his innermost thoughts and feelings, addressing an imagined listener.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Dramatic Monologue

The speaker introduces the concept of the dramatic monologue and traces its etymology. The word 'monologue' comes from the Greek 'monologos,' meaning 'single speech.' This type of poem involves a single speaker expressing thoughts in speech form. The dramatic monologue is first credited to the Victorian poet Robert Browning in the 19th century.

❓ Defining Dramatic Monologue

The speaker anticipates that the concept of a dramatic monologue may still be unclear. They provide a formal definition, explaining that a dramatic monologue is a poem in which a single character, not the poet, speaks to an imagined listener. This definition positions dramatic monologue alongside other poem types, like the sonnet and elegy.

🗣️ The Character's Role in Dramatic Monologues

In this section, the speaker clarifies that the poet creates a character who delivers a speech, rather than speaking themselves. The poet communicates through the character, who talks to an imagined listener. The speaker stresses that understanding this distinction is key to grasping the nature of dramatic monologue.

🔑 Key Characteristics of Dramatic Monologues

The speaker highlights the main characteristics of dramatic monologues to clear up any confusion. First, there is a single speaker who expresses their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Second, the monologue is delivered in a narrative style, often recounting a story or experience. Lastly, the speaker addresses a silent listener, usually an imaginary or absent figure.

📖 Examples of Dramatic Monologue

The speaker offers two well-known examples of dramatic monologues. First is Robert Browning's 'My Last Duchess,' where the Duke discusses his late wife’s portrait with a visitor. The second example is T.S. Eliot's 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,' where the character Prufrock reveals his innermost thoughts and feelings through his monologue. These examples illustrate the key characteristics of the form.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Monologue

A 'monologue' is a speech given by a single person. The term originates from the Greek words 'mono' meaning single and 'logos' meaning speech. In the video, this term is key as the speaker explains the distinction between a regular monologue and a dramatic monologue, focusing on the idea of a single character speaking.

💡Dramatic Monologue

A 'dramatic monologue' refers to a type of poem where a single character delivers a speech to an imagined listener. The speaker emphasizes that in a dramatic monologue, the poet does not speak directly but creates a character who shares their thoughts. This concept is central to the video's explanation, as it defines the genre of poetry being discussed.

💡Robert Browning

Robert Browning was a Victorian poet known for popularizing the dramatic monologue. His work is used as an example in the video to illustrate the genre, particularly with his famous poem 'My Last Duchess,' which embodies the key characteristics of a dramatic monologue.

💡My Last Duchess

'My Last Duchess' is a poem by Robert Browning that serves as an example of a dramatic monologue in the video. The poem features a Duke speaking about his late wife, revealing his feelings and controlling nature. It is used to show how a character expresses thoughts and emotions in this poetic form.

💡Single Speaker

A 'single speaker' is a defining characteristic of a dramatic monologue. In the video, the speaker highlights that only one character delivers the speech, expressing their personal thoughts, experiences, and emotions without interruption. This isolation is a key feature that distinguishes dramatic monologues from other forms of dialogue.

💡Narrative Style

The 'narrative style' of a dramatic monologue refers to the way the speaker recounts events or tells a story. The video explains that this is a critical aspect of dramatic monologues, where the character, rather than the poet, tells the story and expresses their inner feelings through the narrative.

💡Silent Listener

In a dramatic monologue, the speaker often addresses a 'silent listener,' an imagined or absent person who does not respond. The video explains that this creates a one-sided conversation, allowing the speaker to reveal personal thoughts while indirectly communicating with the audience through the listener.

💡The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

This is a poem by T.S. Eliot that serves as another example of a dramatic monologue. In the video, the speaker explains how the character, J. Alfred Prufrock, shares his innermost thoughts and feelings through a monologue. This poem is used to show how characters in dramatic monologues can reveal complex emotions.

💡Imagined Listener

An 'imagined listener' is a person who is referenced in the monologue but does not physically appear or speak. In the video, this concept is mentioned to explain how the character in a dramatic monologue often directs their speech to someone who is not present, adding to the reflective nature of the poem.

💡Character Creation

In a dramatic monologue, 'character creation' is essential as the poet invents a figure who speaks and interacts with an absent listener. The video emphasizes that the poet does not speak in their own voice but instead uses a created character to deliver the monologue, which allows for a more dramatic and fictionalized expression.

Highlights

The term 'monologue' is derived from the Greek word 'monologos', a combination of 'mono' meaning single and 'logos' meaning speech.

A dramatic monologue is a type of poem where a single character, not the poet, delivers a speech.

Robert Browning, a Victorian poet, coined the term 'dramatic monologue' in the 19th century.

In a dramatic monologue, the poet creates a character who delivers a speech to an imagined or silent listener.

A key characteristic of a dramatic monologue is that the poet does not speak directly; the character does.

The first characteristic of a dramatic monologue is a single speaker expressing thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

The second characteristic of a dramatic monologue is its narrative style, often recounting experiences or telling a story.

The speaker in a dramatic monologue addresses a silent listener, who is usually imagined or absent.

If a poem features a single speaker, narrative style, and addresses a silent listener, it qualifies as a dramatic monologue.

'My Last Duchess' by Robert Browning is one of the most famous examples of a dramatic monologue.

In 'My Last Duchess', the Duke discusses the portrait of his late wife with a visitor, revealing his thoughts through the monologue.

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot is another well-known dramatic monologue.

In T.S. Eliot's poem, J. Alfred Prufrock expresses his innermost thoughts and feelings through a monologue.

A dramatic monologue reveals the speaker’s personal insights, often offering deep psychological or emotional revelations.

Dramatic monologues often explore complex emotions and situations, making them a powerful literary tool.