Identifying the features of a soliloquy
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what a soliloquy is and identify its features.
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.
Teacher tip
You could play some sinister classical music in the background while pupils write their soliloquies or while they perform them to make it more dramatic!
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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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What have the witches prophesised?
Q2.Which of these events happen after Banquo and Macbeth meet the witches on the heath?
Q3.How does Lady Macbeth react when Macbeth returns home?
Q4.Which of the following are reasons why Macbeth feels he should kill Duncan?
Q5.Which of the following are reasons why Macbeth feels he should not kill Duncan?
Q6.How does Act I end?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which definition matches which keyword?
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
Q2.Soliloquies are written from which perspective?
Q3.Why are soliloquies useful for the audience?
Q4.What is true of blank verse?
Q5.Iambic pentameter follows which rules?
Q6.The word 'soliloquy' comes from the Latin words 'solus' and 'loqui'. What does 'solus' mean?
To help you plan your 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 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the Shakespeare's 'Macbeth': narrative and soliloquy writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.