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dramatic monologue

American  
[druh-mat-ik mon-uh-lawg, -log] / drəˈmæt ɪk ˈmɒn əˌlɔg, -ˌlɒg /

noun

  1. a poetic form in which a single character, addressing a silent listener at a critical moment, reveals something personal or related to the dramatic situation.


Etymology

Origin of dramatic monologue

First recorded in 1930–35


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

CNN’s entire broadcast, meanwhile, had become brutally compelling, appearing to jettison its ensemble of sedate anchors in favour of King’s one-man dramatic monologue on the Florida county of Miami-Dade.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 4, 2020

What’s more, he acts them to the hilt, turning “Haircut” into a dramatic monologue with a head-turning reveal and “Uncle Fred Flits By” into a one-disaster-after-another farce from which the only thing missing is pratfalls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 12, 2018

Brian Tyree Henry can trace his call to acting back to his senior year in high school when he was performing a dramatic monologue in a play staged for his fellow classmates serving detention.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2017

Ms. Hong also sang with expressive fervor in Milton Babbitt’s “Philomel,” a dramatic monologue based on Ovid’s myth of Philomena.

From New York Times ● Jun. 12, 2016

“And by the way, what play was your dramatic monologue from, Nate?”

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle

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