Identifying the features of a soliloquy
I can explain what a soliloquy is and identify its features.
Identifying the features of a soliloquy
I can explain what a soliloquy is and identify its features.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- A soliloquy is a type of monologue that occurs when a character voices their thoughts and feelings aloud.
- Playwrights include soliloquies to give the audience an insight into characters' feelings.
- In Shakespeare's plays, high status characters' soliloquies follow iambic pentameter structure.
- Soliloquies are written in the first person.
- Other characters are silent during the speaker's soliloquy.
Keywords
Soliloquy - an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play
Monologue - a long speech by one actor in a play or film
Blank verse - unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter
Iambic pentamenter - a style of writing poems in lines of ten syllables with emphasis on the second, fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth syllable
Common misconception
Pupils will find this lesson difficult if they do not have a secure understanding of what a syllable is.
Ahead of the lesson, ask pupils to show you how many syllables there are in three different words (using their hands to 'clap the syllables') so you can assess if there are any pupils who need support prior to the lesson.
To help you plan your year 5 english lesson on: Identifying the features of a soliloquy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 english lesson on: Identifying the features of a soliloquy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 2 english lessons from the Shakespeare's 'Macbeth': narrative and soliloquy writing unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a long speech by one actor in a play or film
an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself
a main character who might say a soliloquy in a play