Final answer:
An aside is a character's private remark to the audience, typically unheard by other characters, while a soliloquy is a longer, reflective speech by a character who is alone onstage. Option (a) accurately describes these terms. These devices are essential in plays for conveying information and character thoughts without a narrator.
Step-by-step explanation:
An aside is a brief remark a character makes, intended to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters in the play. This device allows the audience to hear a character's thoughts or secrets, adding depth to the character while maintaining the illusion that the other characters are unaware of these private thoughts.
Conversely, a soliloquy is a longer speech delivered by a character who is alone onstage. It is used to express the innermost thoughts and feelings of a character directly to the audience, often at moments of significant personal insight or decision-making.
From these definitions, it's clear that the correct comparison is option (a): An aside is a character's private remark to the audience, while a soliloquy is a character's extended speech to themselves, revealing inner thoughts. Asides are typically shorter and imply a complicit relationship between the character and the audience, whereas soliloquies are more extensive and provide a deeper look into a character's psyche.
Both literary devices are crucial for conveying information to the audience that cannot be expressed through dialogue, given the absence of a narrator typically found in novels or short stories. They are fundamental tools in playwriting to advance the plot, enrich character development, and engage the audience.