Final answer:
The term for what Miss Stevenson experiences when she reports to Duffy, who shows little interest, is subtext. Subtext involves the underlying meaning derived from dialogue or character behavior. It's different from a monologue or soliloquy, which are direct speeches delivered by a character.
Step-by-step explanation:
The drama term for when Miss Stevenson calls Duffy to report what she hears, although Duffy doesn't seem overly interested, is classified as subtext. Subtext refers to the underlying meaning or theme that is not stated directly by the characters but can be inferred from their dialogue, actions, and the situation. Unlike a monologue or a soliloquy—which are both types of speech delivered by a character in drama to convey their thoughts directly to the audience or to themselves—subtext is the implicit content of the conversation that reveals additional layers of meaning.
Monologue typically involves a lengthy speech by one character, which may be directed to other characters or the audience, while a soliloquy is a speech made by a character who is alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts or feelings.
Here is an example of how dialogue and subtext can shape a scene:
Jack: "You've been quiet today, Suzie."
Suzie: "Just thinking..."
Alec: (Mumbles something under his breath)
Jack: "I noticed that. Care to share with the rest of us?"
In this exchange, the explicit dialogue is accompanied by implicit subtext that hints at unspoken tensions or concerns between the characters, which the audience can pick up on through the characters' brief and pointed exchanges.