Definition: Dialogue is conversation between two or more characters.
Definition: A monologue is a long speech spoken by a character to themself, another character, or to the audience.
Definition: A soliloquy is a speech given by a character when they are alone or think they are alone.
Purpose: Soliloquys often reveal a character's private thoughts to the audience. They often highlight a character's internal struggle as they make a decision or come to terms with a situation. They can be used to create dramatic irony (see below for definition).
Definition: An aside is a line or lines that not all characters on stage can hear. In an aside, a character can speak to only some of the characters in a conversation or the character can address the audience directly.
Purpose: Asides allow characters to reveal information that not all other characters know. They can be used to create dramatic irony (see below for definition).
Definition: Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that characters do not.
Definition: Stage directions tell actors where to move and what to do on stage. They can also explain setting, props, or costumes.