Concept:A soliloquy is a dramatic device where a character speaks their thoughts aloud while alone on stage, directly revealing inner feelings to the audience without addressing any other character.
Explanation:1. The word “soliloquy” comes from Latin “soliloquium” meaning “talking to oneself.”
2. In a soliloquy, the speaker is physically alone (or acts as if alone) and speaks for the audience’s benefit, not for interaction.
3. Unlike a monologue (which is spoken to other characters), a soliloquy is a private moment shared with the audience.
4. For example, Hamlet’s famous “To be, or not to be” is a soliloquy expressing his internal conflict.
5. Option B (“An act of speaking alone or to oneself”) correctly captures this definition; the other options involve speaking *with* someone, which contradicts the solitary nature of a soliloquy.
Answer:Option B: An act of speaking alone or to oneself.