In the theatre, words spoken by a character that are meant to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters on stage is called_________?

Analyze the question The question asks for the term for words a character speaks that the audience hears, but the other characters on stage are supposed not to hear.

Explain the concept

• Aside: A short remark made by a character to the audience (or to themselves) while other characters are present on stage but are assumed not to hear it. It is often brief and may reveal a character's true feelings or intentions.
• Soliloquy: A longer speech made by a character who is alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts (e.g., Hamlet's "To be, or not to be"). The key difference is that other characters are not present.
• Acoustic: Relates to sound or hearing. It is not a dramatic device.
• Tone: The author's or speaker's attitude or mood. It is not a way of addressing the audience.

Step-by-step solution

1. The words are heard by the audience. This fits both aside and soliloquy.
2. The words are not heard by the other characters on stage. This means other characters are present but do not hear. That fits an aside, because a soliloquy is spoken when the character is alone.
3. Acoustic and tone do not describe a type of speech in drama.

So the answer is aside.

Answer: A. aside

Exam tip: Remember "aside = beside". Other characters are beside the speaker but cannot hear. "Solo" is in soliloquy, so the character is alone.