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interior monologue

the written expression of a character's inner thoughts

In Literary English

In more detail

1. (noun) the thoughts and feelings of a character in a book, story, or play that are shown to the reader or audience, as if we can hear what they are thinking privately

2. (noun) in your own mind, the continuous stream of thoughts, feelings, and reactions you experience as you go through your day

Examples

• 1. The novel uses interior monologue to show the character's confusion and fear during the accident.
• 2. My interior monologue during the job interview was full of self-doubt and anxiety.

How to use interior monologue

Interior monologue refers to the unspoken thoughts accessible to readers or audiences, typically in literary works, or to one's own ongoing mental activity. It differs from soliloquy in that soliloquy is usually spoken aloud (though unheard by other characters), whereas interior monologue remains entirely private and mental. The term is commonly used in literary criticism and psychology.

Common phrases

• interior monologue reveals
• interior monologue technique
• interior monologue captures
• interior monologue of the character
• through interior monologue

Synonyms

stream of consciousness · inner voice · private thoughts · inner monologue · soliloquy

Word family

interior (adjective) · monologue (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse interior monologue with soliloquy, not recognizing that soliloquy involves speech while interior monologue is purely mental.

Nearby in Literary English

epithet, frame narrative, hubris, leitmotif, malapropism, meter

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained