NARRATOR: Fort Massac is a small yet strategic United States Army outpost that stands on the muddy banks of the lower Mississippi River. In this year of 1805, its officers and men are lonely and none too happy about it. But on this particular day the outpost is buzzing with excitement. A famous guest has come to visit—Aaron Burr! Aaron Burr, former Vice-President of the United States, rabid Federalist, master politician, smooth-tongued orator; Aaron Burr, the man who had killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. The Colonel, disappointed that Mr. Burr’s visit will be a brief one, attempts to prolong his stay.
The Man Without a Country, by Edward Everett Hale, adapted by Walter Hackett. leman, by Moliere, adapted by Lewy Olfson. © This play is reprinted from Plays, The Drama Magazine for Young People with the permission of the publisher Plays/Sterling Partners Inc. 897 Washington Street #600160, Newton, MA 02460
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
These are the opening lines of the play “The Man Without a Country.”
Why did the playwright choose to include this exposition in a monologue addressed to the audience rather than in dialogue between characters?
Select the two correct answers.
(1 point)
Responses
A monologue is more direct than dialogue because it allows the narrator to talk directly to the audience.
A monologue is more direct than dialogue because it allows the narrator to talk directly to the audience.
The playwright wanted to share an opinion about Andrew Burr that the characters in the play were unlikely to share.
The playwright wanted to share an opinion about Andrew Burr that the characters in the play were unlikely to share.
The other characters do not know who Andrew Burr is, so they would not be able to provide this information to the audience.
The other characters do not know who Andrew Burr is, so they would not be able to provide this information to the audience.
The playwright did not want the characters to know who Andrew Burr was, so the narrator only reveals that information to the audience.
The playwright did not want the characters to know who Andrew Burr was, so the narrator only reveals that information to the audience.
Including this context in a monologue from the narrator allows the characters to have more natural dialogue when they talk to each other.
1 answer
The two correct answers are:
A monologue is more direct than dialogue because it allows the narrator to talk directly to the audience.
The other characters do not know who Andrew Burr is, so they would not be able to provide this information to the audience.
These responses highlight the effectiveness of using a monologue for exposition, as it allows for clear communication of background information directly to the audience and acknowledges the limitations of the characters' knowledge.
