Monologue vs Dialogue
Knowing the difference between monologue and dialogue is very important if you are a literature student as these two terms are often used in literature. A dialogue is when there are two or more people who engage in a conversation. A monologue, on the other hand, is where a single person speaks out. In this sense, the major difference between a dialogue and monologue is in the number of speakers. A monologue has only a single speaker but in a dialogue there is two or more. Unlike in a monologue, in a dialogue there is an exchange of thoughts and ideas. This article attempts to highlight the difference between these two terms while explaining the two terms, monologue and dialogue.
What is a Dialogue?
In day to day life, we engage in conversations with other people. In such situations, ideas are exchanged between people. This is a dialogue because a number of people engage in it. A dialogue always needs at least two people. Not only in real life, we come across dialogues among characters in books, plays and dramas. A dialogue creates an ambience where it allows characters to share their thoughts.
What is a Monologue?
A monologue is a set of lines spoken by an individual where there is only one way communication. Unlike in a dialogue, where there is two-way communication, a monologue only focuses on a single individual who is the speaker. In a literary setting such as a drama, monologues can be used for the purpose of narration as well as to reveal the inner thoughts of a character. This allows the audience to have a better understanding of the character. Let us try to understand this through an example. In Macbeth written by William Shakespeare, there are a number of monologues.
“Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle towards my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat oppressed brain”
This is an example of a monologue from Macbeth. This is just before Macbeth goes to murder king Duncan. It emphasises the state of mind of Macbeth. Shakespeare uses this monologue to open a passage to the inner thoughts of Macbeth.
What is the difference between Monologue and Dialogue?
• A dialogue is when there are two or more people who engage in a conversation.
• A monologue is where a single person speaks out.
• A monologue allows the audience to understand the inner thoughts of a character.
• The difference between a dialogue and monologue is that a monologue has a single speaker but in a dialogue there is two or more.
• Also, a monologue only allows one-way communication but in a dialogue there is two-way communication.