A dramatic monologue is a type of poem or speech in which a character, usually fictional, speaks directly to the audience or to a silent listener, revealing their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Unlike a traditional monologue, which may simply involve one character speaking for an extended period of time, a dramatic monologue is typically more focused on the character's internal experience and psychological state.

The character in a dramatic monologue often speaks in a conversational tone, as if they are confiding in the listener. The speaker's words and actions can reveal important aspects of their personality and backstory, as well as their relationship to the listener or other characters within the poem.

 

Here are some specific features of dramatic monologue:

Single Speaker: In a dramatic monologue, there is usually only one speaker who is the central focus of the poem.

Addressed to a Listener: The speaker in a dramatic monologue is addressing a listener or audience, either directly or indirectly. The listener can be a silent, imagined figure or a specific person in the poem.

Psychological Insight: The speaker's words and actions reveal their inner thoughts, feelings, and motivations, providing the audience with a psychological insight into the character.

Narrative Elements: The monologue may contain a narrative element that reveals the speaker's backstory or current situation, which may help to contextualize their thoughts and feelings.

Persona: The speaker is usually a persona or a character created by the poet, rather than the poet themselves. The speaker may have a distinct voice, personality, and worldview.

Ambiguity: The speaker's words may contain ambiguity and multiple meanings, which may require the audience to read between the lines and interpret the speaker's true intentions.

Intense Emotion: Dramatic monologues often contain intense emotion, such as anger, jealousy, despair, or passion. The speaker may be trying to persuade or manipulate the listener, or reveal a hidden truth.

Here are some of the most famous examples of dramatic monologues:

"My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning

"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot

"Ulysses" by Alfred Lord Tennyson

"Porphyria's Lover" by Robert Browning

"The Bishop Orders His Tomb at Saint Praxed's Church" by Robert Browning

"Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister" by Robert Browning

"The Laboratory" by Robert Browning

"To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell

"The Confessional" by Robert Browning

"The Darkling Thrush" by Thomas Hardy

These dramatic monologues are known for their masterful use of language, psychological insight, and vivid characterization. They are often studied in literature courses and admired for their ability to capture the complexities of the human experience.