Monologue vs Soliloquy
What’s the difference between them?
Monologue
Meaning:
a long speech made by one person in a play, movie, or other performance; long speech of an individual made during a conversation.
Examples:
1. His monologue about the importance of education had the audience in rapt attention.
2. She practiced her monologue for the audition until it felt comfortable and natural.
3. The actor delivered a powerful monologue that brought tears to the audience's eyes.
Soliloquy
Meaning:
a long speech that a character gives expressing their thoughts and feelings aloud while they are alone or in the presence of other characters who are not expected to interject.
Examples:
1. Hamlet's famous soliloquy begins with the words, 'To be, or not to be.'
2. The soliloquy in Macbeth reveals the character's inner conflicts and struggles.
3. His impassioned soliloquy moved the room to tears.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Monologue
1. Soliloquy
2. Pronouncement
3. Speechifying
4. Exposition
5. Long-winded address
1. Dialogue
2. Exchange
3. Conversation
4. Interaction
5. Debate
Soliloquy
1. Monologue
2. Self-talk
3. Internal discourse
4. Introspective discourse
5. Soliloquizing
1. Group discussion
2. Dialogue
3. Conversation
4. Dissemination
5. Chatter
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Monologue", "Soliloquy".
1. Monologues are spoken to others, soliloquies are spoken to oneself.
2. Monologues are one person talking, usually addressed to an audience.
3. Soliloquies are the thoughts that a person has inside their head.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
In what situations should the first word be used?
A monologue is a speech or piece of writing that one person delivers. Monologues are commonly used in plays, films, and books to provide exposition and backstory.
When is the appropriate context for using the second word?
A soliloquy is a speech that a character delivers when alone on stage. Soliloquies are used to express the character's innermost thoughts, feelings, and motivations.
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No, the two words do not share the same pronunciation. Monologue is pronounced 'MAHN-uh-log' while soliloquy is pronounced 'suh-LIL-uh-kee.'
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
A common mistake people make when using these words is to interchange them. Monologues are speeches delivered by one character to an audience, while soliloquies are speeches that a character delivers when alone on stage without an audience.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. She began to recite a __ as she paced the stage.
2. His __ was so stirring that it brought the audience to tears.
3. I think Ive heard that __ before somewhere.
4. His __ was filled with emotion and insight.
5. The __ ended on an unexpected note.
6. I found the __ to be quite moving.
1. She began to recite a soliloquy as she paced the stage.
Explanation: A soliloquy is a literary device where a character speaks their thoughts aloud, usually while alone on stage. This is the appropriate word choice for this sentence as the speaker is alone and speaking their thoughts aloud.
2. His monologue was so stirring that it brought the audience to tears.
Explanation: A monologue is a speech or piece of writing in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, usually in the presence of others. This is the appropriate word choice for this sentence as the speaker is in the presence of an audience and speaking their thoughts aloud.
3. I think Ive heard that monologue before somewhere.
Explanation: A monologue is a speech or piece of writing in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, usually in the presence of others. This is the appropriate word choice for this sentence as the speaker has heard the monologue before, possibly in the presence of others.
4. His soliloquy was filled with emotion and insight.
Explanation: A soliloquy is a literary device where a character speaks their thoughts aloud, usually while alone on stage. This is the appropriate word choice for this sentence as the speaker is alone and speaking their thoughts aloud.
5. The soliloquy ended on an unexpected note.
Explanation: A soliloquy is a literary device where a character speaks their thoughts aloud, usually while alone on stage. This is the appropriate word choice for this sentence as the speaker is alone and speaking their thoughts aloud, and the soliloquy ends in an unexpected way.
6. I found the monologue to be quite moving.
Explanation: A monologue is a speech or piece of writing in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, usually in the presence of others. This is the appropriate word choice for this sentence as the speaker is describing their reaction to the monologue, which was spoken in the presence of others.
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List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.