The English-Speaking Union's 2008 National Shakespeare Competition
These suggested monologues have been provided by The English-Speaking Union of the United States. If students choose monologues not included on this list, they must make sure that their selections do not exceed 20 lines (verse) or 17 lines (prose). Students who perform longer monologues will be disqualified.

A Midsummer Night's DreamPuck2.1.42-58Thou speakest arighthere comes Oberon.
A Midsummer Night's DreamOberon2.1.249-67I know a bankfirst cock crow.
A Midsummer Night's DreamHelena3.2.145-61O spite! O hell!all to make you sport.
A Midsummer Night's DreamTheseus5.1.4-22Lovers and madmensuppos'd a bear.
All's Well That Ends WellHelen1.1.79-98O were that allWho comes here?
Antony and CleopatraCleopatra5.2.280-98Give me my robeleave-taking.
As You Like ItDuke Senior2.1.1-17Now my co-matesin everything.
As You Like ItPhebe3.5.8-27I would not be thy executionerThat can do hurt.
The Comedy of ErrorsAdriana2.1.87-101His company must do I am but his stale.
CoriolanusVolumnia3.2.52-69Because that now that want might ruin.
CoriolanusCoriolanus3.3.120-35You common crya world elsewhere.
Cymbeline Imogen 1.6.141-55 Away. I do condemn What ho, Pisanio!
Cymbeline Posthumus 5.5.209-27 Ay, so thou dost Imogen, Imogen!
Hamlet Claudius 3.3.36-55 O, my offense is rank mine own ambition and my queen.
Hamlet Hamlet 3.3.73-93 Now might I do it kick at heaven.
Hamlet Gertrude 4.7.166-83 There is a willow grows to muddy death.
Henry IV, part 1 King 1.1.77-95 Yea, there thou mak'st me sad Mordake Earl of Fife.
Henry IV, part 1 Falstaff 2.4.466-80 But to say all the world.
Henry IV, part 2 Rumor 1.1.1-20 Open your ears; can play upon it.
Henry V Hostess 2.3.9-26 (omit Nay sure,) he's not in hell; as cold as any stone.
Henry VI, part 1 Joan de Pucelle 1.2.72-90 Dolphin, I am by birth that I exceed my sex.
Henry VI, part 2 Queen Margaret 3.2.74-93 What, dost thou turn away office unto thee.
Henry VI, part 3 Son 2.5.55-72 Ill blows the wind have flow'd their fill.
Julius Caesar Portia 2.1.237-56 Y’have ungently, Brutus with your cause of grief.
Julius Caesar Caesar 3.1.58-73 I could be well mov’d, do remain to keep him so.
King John Constance 3.4.44-60 Thou art not of each calamity.
King John Hubert 4.2.185-202 Old men and beldames talks of Arthur's death.
King Lear King Lear 1.4.275-89 Hear, Nature, hear, a thankless child!—Away, away!
Love's Labour's Lost Berowne 5.2.315-34 This fellow pecks honey-tongued Boyet.
Love's Labour's Lost Rosalind 5.2.841-54 Oft have I heard impotent to smile.
Macbeth Lady Macbeth 1.5.38-58 The raven himself is hoarse in the instant.
Measure for Measure Angelo 2.4.154-70 Who will believe thee o'erweighs your true.
Measure for Measure Isabella 2.4.171-87 To whom should I complain his soul's rest.
The Merry Wives of Windsor Falstaff 3.5.3-18 Go fetch me a quart of sack a mountain of mummy.
Much Ado About Nothing Benedick 2.3.22-36 May I be in the arbor.
Othello Roderigo 1.1.121-40 If't be your pleasure for thus deluding you.
Othello Emilia 4.3.86-103 But I do think instruct us so.
Othello Othello 5.2.338-56 Soft you smote him--thus.
Richard III Lady Anne 1.2.50-67 Foul devil arm hath butchered!
Romeo and Juliet Prince 1.1.81-97 Rebellious subjects the forefeit of the peace.
Romeo and Juliet Juliet 2.5.1-19 The clock stroock nine send thy man away.
Romeo and Juliet Romeo 5.3.101-20 Ah, dear Juliet Thus with a kiss I die.
The Merchant of Venice Shylock 1.3.111-29 You call me misbeliever I’ll lend you thus much moneys?”
The Merchant of Venice Portia 4.1.184-202 The quality of mercy is not strain’d the deeds of mercy.
The Taming of the Shrew Petruchio 4.1.190-209 My falcon now headstrong humor.
The Taming of the Shrew Katherina 5.2.161-79 I am ashamed do him ease.
The Tempest Caliban 1.2.330-44 I must eat my dinner the rest o' th' island.
The Tempest Prospero Epilogue Now my charms set me free.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona Julia 1.2.102-19 O hateful hands into the raging sea.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona Proteus 2.4.192-210 Even as one heat my reason's light;
The Winter's Tale Leontes 2.1.36-52 How blest am I to play at will.
The Winter's Tale Hermione 3.2.91-108 Sir, spare your threats I should fear to die?
Titus Andronicus Tamora 1.1.104-20 Stay, Roman brethren! my first-born son!
Titus Andronicus Aaron 5.1.125-44 Even now I curse the day do ten thousand more.
Troilus and Cressida Troilus 1.1.48-63 O Pandarus! the knife that made it.
Troilus and Cressida Cressida 3.2.117-33 Hard to seem won Stop my mouth!
Twelfth Night Viola 2.2.17-36 I left no ring with her What will become of this?
Twelfth Night Sebastian 4.3.1-20 This is the air I perceive she does.