Question

from Tamburlaine the Great, Act III, Scene 2,
Christopher Marlowe In lines 56–67 of selection 1, the author uses the dramatic convention of a monologue. What function does this dramatic convention most clearly serve in these lines?

1. It adds drama by allowing Agydas to mock his captors at length to their faces.
2. It adds drama by allowing Agydas to explain his choice at length to his captors.
3. It helps characterize Agydas by allowing him to directly inform the audience of his secret fears.
4. It helps characterize Tamburlaine by allowing Agydas to directly inform the audience of Tamburlaine's cruelty.

Answer 1

3

The monologue gives Agydas direct speech that reveals his inner feelings and fears to the audience—an explicit characterization device—rather than simply mocking captors, arguing choices to them, or focusing primarily on Tamburlaine’s cruelty.