Engish STAAR ( State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Practice Test

What type of literary device involves a character delivering a long speech alone on stage?

1. Monologue

2. Aside

3. Soliloquy

4. Analogy

The correct answer is: Soliloquy

A soliloquy is a literary device used in drama where a character speaks their thoughts aloud, typically when they are alone on stage. This device allows audiences to gain insight into the character's inner feelings and motivations, often revealing their true emotions and conflicts that might not be expressed in dialogue with other characters. A well-known example of this can be seen in Shakespeare's works, where characters like Hamlet articulate their thoughts directly to the audience. While a monologue also involves a long speech, it can be delivered with other characters present and does not exclusively reflect the character's innermost thoughts. An aside, on the other hand, is typically a brief remark made to the audience that other characters do not hear, and an analogy is a comparison between two different things that highlights some form of similarity. The distinctiveness of the soliloquy lies in its focus on the solitary expression of a character’s internal dialogue.