What term indicates that not all characters are privy to the lines spoken?

Study for the GACE Reading Exam. Dive into comprehension and analysis with curated questions designed for success. Each question provides hints and detailed explanations. Get equipped for your exam!

The term that indicates not all characters are privy to the lines spoken is "asides." In a theatrical context, an aside refers to a remark made by a character that is intended to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters on stage. This technique allows the audience to gain insight into a character's thoughts or feelings that the other characters do not have access to, creating a layer of dramatic irony.

Asides serve to enrich the narrative by providing a deeper understanding of a character's motivations or plans, often building tension or humor depending on the context. This contrasts with other forms of speech in drama. For instance, a monologue is a lengthy speech delivered by a character to express their thoughts, usually heard by all on stage, while dialogue refers to the conversation between two or more characters that is generally meant to be heard by everyone present. A soliloquy, while also revealing a character's thoughts, is typically a longer speech where the character is speaking to themselves, often alone on stage, but it is still public to the audience rather than private.

Therefore, asides specifically highlight the fact that certain information is shared with the audience while remaining unknown to other characters, making it a distinct and effective narrative device.

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