What is a soliloquy, as defined in the material?

• A. A speech delivered to another character on stage.
• B. A speech to the audience revealing the speaker's thoughts.
• C. A short aside to the audience during a scene.
• D. A formal address to the court or nobles.

Answer: (B)

A soliloquy is a long, uninterrupted speech in which a character speaks their private thoughts directly to the audience, usually while alone on stage or believing no one else is listening. That description matches the option that portrays a speech to the audience revealing the speaker’s thoughts. The other scenarios involve talking to someone else on stage, a brief aside to the audience, or a formal address to the court, none of which capture the introspective, audience-facing nature of a soliloquy. In Shakespeare and similar plays, soliloquies are used to expose inner motives, doubts, and plans, letting the audience peek behind the character’s outward actions.