Monologue

Telling Tales is a series of eleven monologues. A monologue is a speech given by one person in a drama. The narrators in monologues may speak as if they are simply telling a story aloud or they may address the audience directly; Cruz employs both strategies in the play. The monologues that are narrative generally employ the first method, while the monologues that are more stream-of-consciousness employ the second method. Three of the monologues—"Loose Lips," "Sky," and "Coconuts"—include stage directions as do traditional pieces of drama. "She Was Something . . ." is unique in its format, for it is transcribed on paper in the form of a poem. Also like a poem, this monologue contains vivid imagery and symbolism.

Imagery

Cruz refers to Latinos and other minorities in America as "people of color," and perhaps the most prevalent form of imagery that she uses throughout Telling Tales is...