Dramatic Monologue
* Definition: A dramatic monologue is a poem in which a single speaker addresses a silent listener. The speaker reveals their character, motivations, and inner thoughts through their words.
* Key Features:
* Single speaker: The entire poem is spoken by one character.
* Silent listener: The speaker is addressing someone, but that listener does not respond.
* Revealing character: The monologue often unveils the speaker's personality, secrets, and vulnerabilities.
* Dramatic situation: There's usually a specific context or situation that drives the speaker's monologue.
Key Differences from Other Poems:
* Unlike a lyric poem: In a lyric poem, the speaker is often the poet, and the focus is on personal feelings and emotions.
* Unlike a narrative poem: A narrative poem tells a story with various characters and events. A dramatic monologue focuses on a single speaker's perspective and inner world.
Examples of Dramatic Monologues:
* "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning
* "Ulysses" by Alfred Lord Tennyson
* "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot
Therefore, a dramatic monologue is a poem where a speaker other than the poet addresses a silent listener, revealing their character and inner thoughts within a specific context.