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Difficulty: MediumDramatic Devices and Conventions

Read the dramatic excerpt below:

OGONGO: [Stepping toward the edge of the stage, speaking quietly to the audience while Chief Baroka and the elders continue discussing the treaty] Let the old lion roar all he wants; by midnight, the land deeds will be safely in my chest, and he will have no kingdom left to defend. [He steps back into the council circle and nods in feigned agreement.]

Which dramatic convention is demonstrated by Ogongo's direct address to the audience while other characters remain on stage?

  1. asideAnswer
  2. B
    soliloquy
  3. C
    dramatic irony
  4. D
    tragic flaw

Answer

An aside, which is a brief speech spoken by a character directly to the audience while other characters remain present on stage without hearing it.
The correct answer is aside because Ogongo addresses the audience directly while other characters remain on stage but are conventionally understood not to hear his words.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stage directions and performance context in the excerpt.
Ogongo speaks to the audience while Chief Baroka and the elders are still present on stage engaged in dialogue.
Dramatic devices are distinguished by stage positioning, presence of other characters, and intended audience.
2
Differentiate between an aside and a soliloquy.
Since other characters are on stage during the utterance, the speech cannot be a soliloquy.
A soliloquy requires the speaker to be alone on stage to reveal inner thoughts, whereas an aside occurs in the presence of others who are conventionally deaf to the remark.

Key Concept

Dramatic Devices and Conventions
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Topics

Dramatic Devices and Conventions

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