Which term describes a long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage?

• A. Soliloquy
• B. Monologue
• C. Aside
• D. Motif

Answer: (B)

A soliloquy is a long speech in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud while alone on stage, revealing inner reflections directly to the audience. This device lets us understand the character’s private considerations as if we’re inside their mind. A monologue, by contrast, is a lengthy speech delivered by one character but not necessarily while alone—they may be addressing other characters or the audience. An aside is a brief remark to the audience that other characters on stage don’t hear. A motif is a recurring image or idea that weaves through the work, not a type of speech. So the description given matches soliloquy, since it emphasizes the character exposing inner thoughts while alone.