Exercise for Lesson 7: Monologue
Instructions: In this lesson, we were able to discuss the importance of monologue. We were able to see how well a monologue can increase the drama in writing and how crucial it can be to the plot and overall feel of your work. In the tradition of the films we discussed in our module, in this exercise we’re going to be writing monologues for some of the most famous stories ever written—fairy tales. Follow the instructions below. At the end of the paper, an example will be given to help better illustrate how to answer this exercise.
- Write a monologue from the point of view of one of Cinderella’s step sisters. She is talking to the step mother about how unfair it is that Cinderella is going to wed the prince.
- Write a monologue describing how The Little Mermaid would explain her situation if she was able to get her voice back in time.
- Write a monologue from the point of view of the sorceress in Beauty & the Beast, telling the prince why she turned him into a beast.
An example is provided below, to help you better understand how to go about answering this exercise.
Write a monologue from the point of view of Rumpelstiltskin, goading the young woman on about discovering his name when she refuses to give him her child.
No one knows my name except those without mouths. Oh my, oh my—what a deal you’ve asked for! You’ll have to listen: to the trees, to the stones, to the soil, to the hay that we spun into gold.
Look at you now! I gave you the gold, I gave you the crown and I don’t work for free! You know that, dearie. Time to take a guess—what’ll it be?
You knew the price—I said it as I sat spinning, spinning and you said sure, sure.
What happened to sure, sure?
You’ll have to listen: to the brooks, the bark, the grass. In this ivory palace there is no dirt under your feet to tell you my secrets, no water to ripple and whisper my name in your ear! Take three guesses, girl, or surrender your child here!