A Midsummer Night’s Dream Group

Question:

psyd019
psyd019
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is Robin's final speech at the end of the play an aside, monologue, or soliloquy? Please support your answer.

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Posted by psyd019 on Wednesday October 8, 2008 at 7:11 PM and tagged with a midsummer night’s dream, end of show, monologue, puck.

Answers:


  1. katemschultz Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    A monologue is a speech given by a single actor, and a soliloquy is the same thing, except the character is alone on stage, speaking to him/herself. An aside is a line spoken directly to the audience that other actors/characters cannot or do not hear.

    I would consider Puck's speech a monologue. It's not a soliloquy because he's not speaking to himself or speaking his thoughts out loud. Though he is speaking to the audience, it's not an aside, as it is a direct address to the audience. Technically, it's an epilogue or a curtain speech, as Puck is asking the audience to like the play and if not, pretend it was all just a dream. It's a common convention in Shakespeare plays...look at "As You Like It".

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    Posted by katemschultz on Wednesday October 8, 2008 at 7:53 PM


  2. chicagorilke23

    eNotes Editor

    Robin's final speech at the end of the play is both a monologue and perhaps, a solo address.

    A monologue is a single person speaking alone, an audience is optional. Puck is speaking alone; there are not other characters that join him. He also is speaking to an audience. 

    Puck's last lines may also be a solo address. A solo address is one of the four types of monologue. 

    A solo address is an explanation to the audience. At the end, Puck addresses the audience. He tells the audience what he is doing and asks for the audience's forgiveness.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/midsummer/act-v-scene-1-summary-ana...

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    Posted by chicagorilke23 on Wednesday October 8, 2008 at 8:29 PM