Writing an Internal Monologue: your assessment task An internal monologue is where

Writing an Internal Monologue: your assessment task

An internal monologue is where the character reveals what’s going on in his/ her mind. Monologues are often written using imagery, comparisons, sound words, word play and other literary devices.

An internal monologue reveals what motivates the character to act the way he/she does. Remember that a character is a construction – developed by the author through description of physical appearance, actions, dialogue and relationships with other characters.

Describe the following characteristics of the character you will select for your assessment task.

Characterisation

Evidence from the film

Physical Appearance

Acts / does

Says about self

Says about others

Others say about him/her

An internal monologue is a narrative of exactly what is going on inside the character’s mind (as designed by the author.) You need to know what sort of things your chosen character would be most concerned about. Of course, this needs to be based on evidence from the film.

Why do you want to portray this particular character? What interests or fascinates you about this character? Type or write in the box below.

Consider the character’s contribution to the development of the themes of the film and the representations we have discussed. How is the construction of this character important to these aspects of the film; consider character traits (characterisation elements.) List your thoughts to this below.

What are the social values and attitudes of the time that have shaped the construction of this character? Does the film maker support or oppose them?

Consider where the character’s internal monologue will best fit. A place where the character is revealed to be struggling, thinking deeply, worried about something that has happened or is going to happen, paranoid, etc. What are things are haunting his/her thoughts? Describe below where this monologue will take place, in response to what event and why.

Imagine the voice of the character.

How can you make this come alive in the way you write the internal monologue? What emotions do you need to reveal?

Final tips:

Do not write about absolutely everything the character has gone through. Focus your piece.

Make the voice intimate. These thoughts are only for him/her to listen to, not spoken where people are going to make judgements.

Stick to elements of characterisation developed in the film.

Show that you have a depth of understanding of the character