define dialogue literature

Definition of Dialogue

Plato initially used the term “dialogue” to describe Socratic dialectic works. These works feature dialogues with Socrates, and they were intended to communicate philosophical ideas. As a current literary device, dialogue refers to spoken lines by characters in a story that serve many functions such as adding context to a narrative , establishing voice and tone , or setting forth conflict .

“Oh! Don’t cut my throat, sir,” I pleaded in terror. “Pray don’t do it, sir.” “Tell us your name!” said the man. “Quick!” “Pip, sir.” “Once more,” said the man, staring at me. “Give it mouth!”

Examples of Why Writers Use Dialogue

Famous lines of dialogue from well-known movies, writing effective dialogue.

However, writers shouldn’t avoid dialogue. This literary device, when written well, accomplishes many things for the narrative overall. Dialogue that sounds natural, authentic, and lifelike will advance the plot of a story, establish characters, and provide exposition. Therefore, writers should understand their purpose in using this literary device effectively as a means of creating a compelling story and entertaining experience for the reader.

Examples of Dialogue in Literature

Example 1: up-hill (christina rossetti).

Does the road wind up-hill all the way? Yes, to the very end. Will the day’s journey take the whole long day? From morn to night , my friend . But is there for the night a resting-place? A roof for when the slow dark hours begin. May not the darkness hide it from my face? You cannot miss that inn. Shall I meet other wayfarers at night? Those who have gone before. Then must I knock, or call when just in sight? They will not keep you standing at that door. Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak? Of labour you shall find the sum. Will there be beds for me and all who seek? Yea, beds for all who come.

Example 2: The Importance of Being Earnest (Oscar Wilde)

ALGERNON. I’m afraid I’m not that. That is why I want you to reform me. You might make that your mission, if you don’t mind, cousin Cecily. CECILY. I’m afraid I’ve no time, this afternoon. ALGERNON. Well, would you mind my reforming myself this afternoon? CECILY. It is rather Quixotic of you. But I think you should try. ALGERNON. I will. I feel better already. CECILY. You are looking a little worse. ALGERNON. That is because I am hungry. CECILY. How thoughtless of me. I should have remembered that when one is going to lead an entirely new life, one requires regular and wholesome meals. Won’t you come in ?

Example 3: Hills Like White Elephants (Ernest Hemingway)

“And you think then we’ll be all right and be happy.” “I know we will. You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve known lots of people that have done it.” “So have I,” said the girl. “And afterward they were all so happy.” “Well,” the man said, “if you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to. But I know it’s perfectly simple.” “And you really want to?” ” I think it’s the best thing to do. But I don’t want you to do it if you don’t really want to.” “And if I do it you’ll be happy and things will be like they were and you’ll love me?” “ I love you now . You know I love you.”

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What is Dialogue in Literature? Definition, Examples of Literary Dialogues

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is Dialogue in Literature? Definition, Examples of Literary Dialogues

Dialogue definition: Dialogue is a conversation between two or more characters in a literary work.

What is Dialogue?

Meaning of dialogue: The term dialogue means “two” (di-) “speak” (log). In this sense, two people are speaking to create dialogue.

Dialogue is a spoken conversation that includes at least two characters.

Example of Dialogue:

what is a dialogue

“No,” responded Mrs. Smith.

“How much longer?”

“At least another hour.”

Types of Dialogue

In literature, and elsewhere, there are a few different types of dialogue. Here are the two most common types.

What is Inner Dialogue?

Dialogue examples in literature

Sometimes inner dialogue is said out loud (Everyone talks to himself once in a while!) and sometimes inner dialogue takes place in the mind.

Sometimes inner dialogue is punctuated in italics.

What is Outer Dialogue?

Outer dialogue exists between two (or more) characters and is said “ out loud .”

Outer dialogue punctuated with quotation marks. Each new speaker requires a new paragraph and indentation.

“Let’s go to the beach this afternoon!” suggested Kara.

“I’d rather go to the zoo,” responded Miguel.

“Let’s flip a coin to decide,” remarked Amanda.

“I call heads!” shouted Miguel.

The Function of Dialogue

dramatic dialogue

First, it creates characterization. In fact, it is one of the four main methods of characterization. The audience learns much about a character through his speech.

Second, dialogue advances the plot . Interactions within, between, or among characters help to give insight to the storyline.

Additionally, well-written dialogue makes a text realistic. In the real world, people interact and have conversations. This is critical to a successful text.

Examples of Dialogue in Literature

Dialogue literary definition

Here is an example from the opening chapters of The Catcher in the Rye between Mr. Spencer and Holden Caulfield.

“What did Dr. Thurmer say to you, boy? I understand you had quite a little chat.

“Yes, we did. We really did. I was in his office for around two hours, I guess.”

“What’d he say to you?”

“Oh…well, about Life being a game and all. And how you should play it according to the rules. He was pretty nice about it. I mean he didn’t hit the ceiling or anything. He just kept talking about Life being a game and all. You know.”

“Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules.”

“Yes, sir, I know it is. I know it.”

This is example is an introduction to Caulfield’s true character. Throughout the text, he lies and tries to manipulate adults. This example begins to develop the cunning side of Caulfield.

Define dialogue in literature: the definition of dialogue in literature is a conversation between two or more characters in a story, or between a character and himself.

To sum up, dialogue:

See also dialogue vs. dialog .

define dialogue literature

Dialogue Definition

What is dialogue? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Dialogue is the exchange of spoken words between two or more characters in a book, play, or other written work. In prose writing, lines of dialogue are typically identified by the use of quotation marks and a dialogue tag, such as "she said." In plays, lines of dialogue are preceded by the name of the person speaking. Here's a bit of dialogue from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland : "Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: 'we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." "How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice. "You must be,' said the Cat, 'or you wouldn't have come here."

Some additional key details about dialogue:

How to Pronounce Dialogue

Here's how to pronounce dialogue: dye -uh-log

Dialogue in Depth

Dialogue is used in all forms of writing, from novels to news articles to plays—and even in some poetry. It's a useful tool for exposition (i.e., conveying the key details and background information of a story) as well as characterization (i.e., fleshing out characters to make them seem lifelike and unique).

Dialogue as an Expository Tool

Dialogue is often a crucial expository tool for writers—which is just another way of saying that dialogue can help convey important information to the reader about the characters or the plot without requiring the narrator to state the information directly. For instance:

The above example is just one scenario in which important information might be conveyed indirectly through dialogue, allowing writers to show rather than tell their readers the most important details of the plot.

Expository Dialogue in Plays and Films

Dialogue is an especially important tool for playwrights and screenwriters, because most plays and films rely primarily on a combination of visual storytelling and dialogue to introduce the world of the story and its characters. In plays especially, the most basic information (like time of day) often needs to be conveyed through dialogue, as in the following exchange from Romeo and Juliet :

BENVOLIO Good-morrow, cousin. ROMEO Is the day so young? BENVOLIO But new struck nine. ROMEO Ay me! sad hours seem long.

Here you can see that what in prose writing might have been conveyed with a simple introductory clause like "Early the next morning..." instead has to be conveyed through dialogue.

Dialogue as a Tool for Characterization

In all forms of writing, dialogue can help writers flesh out their characters to make them more lifelike, and give readers a stronger sense of who each character is and where they come from. This can be achieved using a combination of:

For example, in Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's narrator uses dialogue to introduce Mrs. and Mr. Bennet, their relationship, and their differing attitudes towards arranging marriages for their daughters:

"A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” “How so? How can it affect them?” “My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.” “Is that his design in settling here?” “Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.”

This conversation is an example of the use of dialogue as a tool of characterization , showing readers—without explaining it directly—that Mrs. Bennet is preoccupied with arranging marriages for her daughters, and that Mr. Bennet has a deadpan sense of humor and enjoys teasing his wife.

Recognizing Dialogue in Different Types of Writing

It's important to note that how a writer uses dialogue changes depending on the form in which they're writing, so it's useful to have a basic understanding of the form dialogue takes in prose writing (i.e., fiction and nonfiction) versus the form it takes in plays and screenplays—as well as the different functions it can serve in each. We'll cover that in greater depth in the sections that follow.

Dialogue in Prose

In prose writing, which includes fiction and nonfiction, there are certain grammatical and stylistic conventions governing the use of dialogue within a text. We won't cover all of them in detail here (we'll skip over the placement of commas and such), but here are some of the basic rules for organizing dialogue in prose:

Of course, some writers ignore these conventions entirely, choosing instead to italicize lines of dialogue, for example, or not to use quotation marks, leaving lines of dialogue undifferentiated from other text except for the occasional use of a dialogue tag. Writers that use nonstandard ways of conveying dialogue, however, usually do so in a consistent way, so it's not hard to figure out when someone is speaking, even if it doesn't look like normal dialogue.

Indirect vs. Direct Dialogue

In prose, there are two main ways for writers to convey the content of a conversation between two characters: directly, and indirectly. Here's an overview of the difference between direct and indirect dialogue:

Of these two types of dialogue, direct dialogue is the only one that counts as dialogue strictly speaking. Indirect dialogue, by contrast, is technically considered to be part of a story's narration.

A Note on Dialogue Tags and "Said Bookisms"

It is pretty common for writers to use verbs other than "said" and "asked" to attribute a line of dialogue to a speaker in a text. For instance, it's perfectly acceptable for someone to write:

However, depending on how it's done, substituting different verbs for "said" can be quite distracting, since it shifts the reader's attention away from the dialogue and onto the dialogue tag itself. Here's an example where the use of non-standard dialogue tags begins to feel a bit clumsy:

Dialogue tags that use verbs other than the standard set (which is generally thought to include "said," "asked," "replied," and "shouted") are known as "said bookisms," and are generally ill-advised. But these "bookisms" can be easily avoided by using adverbs or simple descriptions in conjunction with one of the more standard dialogue tags, as in:

In the earlier version, the irregular verbs (or "said bookisms") draw attention to themselves, distracting the reader from the dialogue. By comparison, this second version reads much more smoothly.

Dialogue in Plays

Dialogue in plays (and screenplays) is easy to identify because, aside from the stage directions, dialogue is the only thing a play is made of. Here's a quick rundown of the basic rules governing dialogue in plays:

Rolling all that together, here's an example of what dialogue looks like in plays, from Edward Albee's Zoo Story:

JERRY: And what is that cross street there; that one, to the right? PETER: That? Oh, that's Seventy-fourth Street. JERRY: And the zoo is around Sixty-5th Street; so, I've been walking north. PETER: [anxious to get back to his reading] Yes; it would seem so. JERRY: Good old north. PETER: [lightly, by reflex] Ha, ha.

Dialogue Examples

The following examples are taken from all types of literature, from ancient philosophical texts to contemporary novels, showing that dialogue has always been an integral feature of many different types of writing.

Dialogue in Shakespeare's Othello

In this scene from Othello , the dialogue serves an expository purpose, as the messenger enters to deliver news about the unfolding military campaign by the Ottomites against the city of Rhodes.

First Officer Here is more news. Enter a Messenger Messenger The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, Steering with due course towards the isle of Rhodes, Have there injointed them with an after fleet. First Senator Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess? Messenger Of thirty sail: and now they do restem Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano, Your trusty and most valiant servitor, With his free duty recommends you thus, And prays you to believe him.

Dialogue in Madeleine L'Engel's A Wrinkle in Time

From the classic children's book A Wrinkle in Time , here's a good example of dialogue that uses a description of a character's tone of voice instead of using unconventional verbiage to tag the line of dialogue. In other words, L'Engel doesn't follow Calvin's line of dialogue with a distracting tag like "Calvin barked." Rather, she simply states that his voice was unnaturally loud.

"I'm different, and I like being different." Calvin's voice was unnaturally loud. "Maybe I don't like being different," Meg said, "but I don't want to be like everybody else, either."

It's also worth noting that this dialogue helps characterize Calvin as a misfit who embraces his difference from others, and Meg as someone who is concerned with fitting in.

Dialogue in A Visit From the Good Squad

This passage from Jennifer Egan's A Visit From the Good Squad doesn't use dialogue tags at all. In this exchange between Alex and the unnamed woman, it's always clear who's speaking even though most of the lines of dialogue are not explicitly attributed to a speaker using tags like "he said."

Alex turns to the woman. “Where did this happen?” “In the ladies’ room. I think.” “Who else was there?” “No one.” “It was empty?” “There might have been someone, but I didn’t see her.” Alex swung around to Sasha. “You were just in the bathroom,” he said. “Did you see anyone?”

Elsewhere in the book, Egan peppers her dialogue with colloquialisms and slang to help with characterization . Here, the washed-up, alcoholic rock star Bosco says:

"I want interviews, features, you name it," Bosco went on. "Fill up my life with that shit. Let's document every fucking humiliation. This is reality, right? You don't look good anymore twenty years later, especially when you've had half your guts removed. Time's a goon, right? Isn't that the expression?"

In this passage, Bosco's speech is littered with colloquialisms, including profanity and his use of the word "guts" to describe his liver, establishing him as a character with a unique way of speaking.

Dialogue in Plato's Meno

The following passage is excerpted from a dialogue by Plato titled Meno. This text is one of the more well-known Socratic dialogues. The two characters speaking are Socrates (abbreviated, "Soc.") and Meno (abbreviated, "Men."). They're exploring the subject of virtue together.

Soc. Now, if there be any sort-of good which is distinct from knowledge, virtue may be that good; but if knowledge embraces all good, then we shall be right in think in that virtue is knowledge? Men. True. Soc. And virtue makes us good? Men. Yes. Soc. And if we are good, then we are profitable; for all good things are profitable? Men. Yes. Soc. Then virtue is profitable? Men. That is the only inference.

Indirect Dialogue in Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried

This passage from O'Brien's The Things They Carried exemplifies the use of indirect dialogue to summarize a conversation. Here, the third-person narrator tells how Kiowa recounts the death of a soldier named Ted Lavender. Notice how the summary of the dialogue is interwoven with the rest of the narrative.

They marched until dusk, then dug their holes, and that night Kiowa kept explaining how you had to be there, how fast it was, how the poor guy just dropped like so much concrete. Boom-down, he said. Like cement.

O'Brien takes liberties in his use of quotation marks and dialogue tags, making it difficult at times to distinguish between the voices of different speakers and the voice of the narrator. In the following passage, for instance, it's unclear who is the speaker of the final sentence:

The cheekbone was gone. Oh shit, Rat Kiley said, the guy's dead. The guy's dead, he kept saying, which seemed profound—the guy's dead. I mean really.

Why Do Writers Use Dialogue in Literature?

Most writers use dialogue simply because there is more than one character in their story, and dialogue is a major part of how the plot progresses and characters interact. But in addition to the fact that dialogue is virtually a necessary component of fiction, theater, and film, writers use dialogue in their work because:

Other Helpful Dialogue Resources

The printed PDF version of the LitCharts literary term guide on Dialogue

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define dialogue literature

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The Before trilogy is a collection of three films - Before Sunrise (1995), Before Sunset (2004), and Before Midnight (2013) - all released about nine years apart. The films follow the relationship of Jesse and Celine, who originally met on a train to Paris. The films are lauded for their effortless, beautiful dialogue . Jesse and Celine talk about love, life, and religion as they stroll through the streets of Paris, the conversation taking them from place to place.

Dialogue is an important part of film, l iterature, and life. But let's go back to basics; what is the role of dialogue in literature, and why is it such an important literary element?

Meaning of dialogue in literature

Dialogue is a key element of a literary or artistic work. Not all literature needs to have dialogue, but it features prominently in drama, films, and in novels.

In literature, dialogue is a spoken exchange, usually between two or more characters in a written work.

When a conversation is depicted as a spoken exchange between two or more speakers, then this is direct dialogue . When a conversation is summarised by the narrator, and the reader does not actually experience the exchange, this is called indirect dialogue .

Because indirect dialogue is a retelling of a dialogue, rather than a dialogue in itself, it is considered a narrative technique rather than a type of dialogue.

At the end of Pride and Prejudice (1813), Elizabeth and Darcy resolve their issues with each other, and she accepts his proposal. Elizabeth and Darcy's conversation is written as a combination of direct and indirect dialogue:

He then told her of Georgiana’s delight in her acquaintance, and of her disappointment at its sudden interruption; which naturally leading to the cause of that interruption, she soon learnt that his resolution of following her from Derbyshire in quest of her sister had been formed before he quitted the inn, and that his gravity and thoughtfulness there had arisen from no other struggles than what such a purpose must comprehend.

Internal dialogue

Literature also features internal dialogues . This is a conversation that a character has with themselves but is not actually spoken out loud.

In Good Morning, Midnight (1939) by Jean Rhys , the narration of the elderly Sasha Jensen often includes internal dialogues:

I order sole and white wine. I eat with my eyes glued on my plate, the feeling of panic growing worse. (I told you not to come in here, I told you not to.)

Socratic dialogue

Socratic dialogue is a literary form , whereby philosophical ideas are held up to scrutiny through a series of questions and answers. Socratic dialogue originated in Ancient Greece. Socrates was Plato's teacher, and the majority of Plato's prose is written as a conversation between Socrates and less-knowledgeable men, wherein Socrates uses a question and answer method to tease out the inconsistencies in their opinions in order to arrive at wise philosophical conclusions.

Socratic dialogue does not require Socrates to be the main character. Anyone can have and write a Socratic dialogue, wherein the goal of the conversation is to uncover the truth about a certain topic.

We won't be focusing on dialogue as a literary form here, but rather as a literary element.

Purpose of dialogue

Dialogue is a storytelling technique. While it is true that dialogue is used for exposition and characterisation, what's key to note is that dialogue is also just a way of telling a story. Great dialogue does not simply serve one mechanical function like providing context, or fleshing out a character. Great dialogue effortlessly does all these things, while making for an exciting reading experience.

The purposes of dialogue include:

It provide context and useful information to the reader. Expository dialogue is usually found at the beginning of a film or book to help get the audience settled into the world of the story.

'Can we take the shortcut down that dark alley?', said Richie.

'No, we can't go down that alley, Richie, don't you know last year someone was murdered there!', said Martha.

Characterisation

How characters speak and what they speak about reveal a lot about their character. How characters speak to one another also reveals the nature of their relationship.

Analysing characterisation through dialogue

Pay attention to the tone used by different characters in a dialogue. What are their attitudes toward what they are talking about, and the person they are speaking to? Do they speak in an earnest, pleasant tone or a bitter, sarcastic tone? Do they wear their heart on their sleeve or are they reserved and secretive?

It is also useful to pay attention to the words they choose. Do they reveal a certain subtext - a hidden meaning? Why is that character not just speaking in an up-front, honest manner? Could they be hiding something?

Advance the plot

Dialogue helps move the plot along, by inciting action . Characters learn new information, they agree or disagree with one another, they confront one another, they work things out, and they come to a certain conclusion. It is often through dialogue, as it is in life with conversation, that resolution is achieved. How many mysteries in literature and film are born of characters failing to communicate effectively with one another?

Present different perspectives

Dialogue presents different ways of thinking so that we can avoid simply siding with the protagonist - the person we are likely to spend the most time with and therefore have an unfair bias towards. By hearing different voices speak within a text, we are exposed to a different way of seeing the world.

Storytelling

Let's not lose the forest for the trees. We shouldn't get too lost in the practical functions of dialogue that we miss the fact that dialogue is a way of telling a story. Stories are not just told through narration, they are told through interactions between characters.

Dialogue in prose with examples

In works of prose , narration can also be used to supplement dialogue, adding a layer of significance to it. Narration can give the reader an insight into how a character really feels inside, and what they really want to say.

Wide Sargasso Sea (1966) by Jean Rhys is an example of a novel that uses first-person narration alongside dialogue to provide crucial insights into the dialogue. The novel is Rhys' prequel to Charlotte Brontë 's Jane Eyre (1847), from the perspective of the 'madwoman in the attic', Antoinette, and Mr Rochester.

In a heated argument between Antoinette and Rochester, we get an insight into how Rochester feels about having accepted a lot of money from Antoinette's family to marry her, without being made aware of her history of mental illness.

'No, I would say – I knew what I would say. 'I have made a terrible mistake. Forgive me.'

I said it, looking at her, seeing the hatred in her eyes – and feeling my own hate spring up to meet it. Again the giddy change, the remembering, the sickening swing back to hate. They bought me, me with your paltry money. You helped them to do it. You deceived me, betrayed me, and you'll do worse if you get the chance ...'

- Wide Sargasso Sea (1966)

The narration here provides an insight into Rochester's perspective we wouldn't get from dialogue alone. The supplementary narration shows Rochester's train of thought and explains why he ended up cruelly locking Antoinette in the attic at Thornfield.

These are the traditional dialogue tags used to present dialogue in works of English literature:

Here's an example of dialogue in a novel .

"Blessed be the fruit," she says to me, the accepted greeting among us.

"May the Lord open," I answer, the accepted response.

Margaret Atwood , ' The Handmaid's Tale ' (1985)

By using dialogue, Margaret Atwood illustrates how the handmaids' speech has been limited to a few acceptable remarks pertaining to their role in Gilead, which is to provide the Commanders with children.

Why might authors not use dialogue tags?

Although dialogue tags are useful in literature, authors may also choose to do away with traditional ways of writing dialogue to create dialogue that flows more seamlessly, or to communicate a specific style and meaning.

For example, in Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse (1927) some lines of speech are written in the narration without quotation marks, but followed up with a 'she said'. This stylistic choice adds to the flow of the novel's narration.

As for her little bag, might he not carry that? No, no, she said, she always carried THAT herself.

Dialogue in drama

Dialogue is a very important aspect of drama since most plays are dialogue-based. In a drama text, dialogue is signposted with:

Here's an example from Tennessee Williams ' famous play A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) that demonstrates the dialogue tags used in drama :

Hello. [He stares at her.]

Blanche, this is Harold Mitchell. My sister, Blanche DuBois.

MITCH [with awkward courtesy]:

How do you do, Miss DuBois.

- Scene 3, A Streetcar Named Desire (1947)

Dialogue is used to depict this first meeting between the characters as awkward.

Dialogue in narrative poetry

Dialogue is also used in narrative poetry .

Narrative poetry is poetry that tells a story, using traditional storytelling elements such as plot , characters, dialogue, conflict , and resolution.

Dialogue in poetry can have more or less the same dialogue tags that are used in prose .

A famous example of a narrative poem that uses dialogue is Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Raven' (1845), about a man whose mourning for his dead lover is interrupted by a crow's rap at the window.

In this poem, dialogue is used to characterise the speaker and to stimulate action .

The speaker wants to find meaning in the crow's refrain of 'nevermore', and he asks the bird questions he knows it will only answer with 'nevermore'. He asks if there is a cure for his suffering, the crow says there will never be. The speaker's dialogue with the crow brings about a resolution, as it leads to his acceptance of death's inevitability in the final lines of the poem.

What makes good dialogue?

Often what makes for good dialogue in fiction is that it be credible and realistic . Characters should speak to one another as people do in the real world. Realistic, credible dialogue flows naturally without drawing attention to itself in order to immerse the reader in the world of the story.

But the difference between dialogue and real-world conversation is that dialogue must often serve a narrative purpose . If a bit of dialogue doesn't further the story in some way, this is seen as bad writing. In real life, however, we often talk to each other just to fill in the silence and to pass the time, without any grand purpose in mind (unless you are a businesswoman trying to secure a business deal).

However, not all writers strive for realism in their work. While realism and credibility may aid the overall meaning of some texts, other writers may want to do something entirely different with their dialogue to convey their unique meaning. Writers may adopt purposefully unrealistic and even absurd dialogue to suit their artistic goals.

That is exactly how Samuel Beckett uses dialogue in his absurdist play , Waiting for Godot (1953), a play about two men waiting for a man named Godot who, spoiler alert, never comes.

Absurdist fiction explores the meaninglessness of life by creating senseless scenarios and employing literary elements and techniques, such as dialogue and action , in an absurd way.

The dialogue of the characters is not realistic in a traditional sense, it is short and snappy and nonsensical. The dialogue does not drive the story forward, as the two men talk to merely 'pass the time'.

Ah yes, the two thieves. Do you remember the story?

Shall I tell it to you?

It'll pass the time. (Pause.) Two thieves, crucified at the same time as our

Saviour. One—

But Beckett's use of dialogue tries to represent a truth about how humans often talk to one another. Beckett's use of dialogue is a commentary on the futility of human conversation: how we often speak to each other not to communicate, but to avoid a void of silence that leaves us alone with our thoughts; alone to confront the meaninglessness of life.

As we have seen, dialogue is an important literary element. So important, in fact, that some literary theorists even go so far as to say that good literature should be a sort of dialogue; an open-ended discussion that fleshes out different worldviews, rather than promoting a singular way of seeing the world.

Dialogue - Key takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions about Dialogue

--> what is dialogue.

Dialogue is a spoken exchange between two or more characters in a written work. This includes novels, films, etc.

--> How is dialogue used in literature?

Dialogue is used in literature to provide exposition, to develop a character and to move the story along. Dialogue is also used to provide different perspectives.

--> How do you write dialogue?

Dialogue is typically written with dialogue tags, such as quotation marks, a verb describing the speech, the name of the character who has spoken and a line break. However, authors may decide not to use these common dialogue tags, to fit the style and meaning of their story.

--> How do you write dialogue in a story?

In fiction stories, dialogue is often written in a realistic and credible way, with characters speaking as they would in normal life. The dialogue flows as a normal conversation would flow. However, authors can also write dialogues that are deliberately non-realistic to convey a specific meaning.

--> What is an example of a dialogue?

An example of dialogue is the exchanges between the handmaids in The Handmaid's Tale (1985) by Margaret Atwood. When handmaids meet one another, they are not free to speak as they wish but must comply with language that is acceptable in the state of Gilead. Offred's shopping partner, Ofglen, greets her with, 'Blessed be the fruit,'' she says to me, the accepted greeting among us.' Offred replies with '"May the Lord open," I answer, the accepted response.'

Final Dialogue Quiz

What is dialogue?

Dialogue is a spoken exchange between two or more characters in a written work.

Can a single person have a dialogue?

No - dialogue is between two or more people only.

What is direct dialogue?

Direct dialogue is a conversation depicted as a spoken exchange between two or more people.

What is indirect dialogue?

A conversation that is summarised by the narrator.

What is Socratic dialogue?

A literary form where a question and answer method is used to try to discover truths about a particular topic.

Dialogue is used for what purposes?

What are dialogue tags?

Dialogue tags mark dialogue. Dialogue tags usually include:

Why might authors choose to not use dialogue tags?

What is a literary form where you might not expect to find dialogue?

Why is dialogue used in narrative poetry?

Because narrative poetry is poetry that makes use of traditional storytelling elements, which includes dialogue.

Good dialogue must be written in a realistic and credible way.

True - good dialogue flows naturally without drawing attention to itself in order to immerse the reader in the world of the story.

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I. What is Dialogue?

Dialogue (pronounced die-a-log) means “conversation.” In the broadest sense, this includes any case of two or more characters speaking to each other directly. But it also has a narrower definition, called the dialogue form . The dialogue form is the use of a sustained dialogue to express an argument or idea. This article will focus more on the narrower definition, since this definition is generally less familiar to people than the more general one.

II. Examples of Dialogue

Many modern playwrights use dialogue to explore philosophical ideas. One famous example is Copenhagen by Michael Frayn, in which two great physicists – one Danish and the other German – meet in the midst of World War II. Their conversation ranges over science, politics, and their personal relationship, and each of these conversations deeply influences the other two, producing an extremely complex and philosophical narrative, despite having only two main characters .

Perhaps the most famous use of the dialogue form is Plato’s Symposium . In this highly influential work of philosophy, Plato describes a conversation between Socrates and several of his friends. They are all lying on couches in various states of drunkenness, arguing about the meaning of love. Over the course of the dialogue, the arguments become more and more sophisticated, until in the end we see the ultimate conversation between Socrates and his intoxicated student, Alcibiades. Socrates ultimately demonstrates that love is a far more complex and ever-present reality than the simpler notions of affection that his friends have been describing.

III. The Importance of Dialogue

In ancient Greece, drama and philosophy were very closely related. Plays, whether comedy or tragedy, were supposed to express important religious and philosophical ideas, not simply entertain people. As a result, early philosophers such as Plato employed the dialogue form in writing their philosophy. Although philosophy is now written in monologue (with only one voice, namely the author’s), there is still a value to the dialogue form.

Any argument, whether in philosophy or any other discipline, proceeds by responding to counterarguments and reader doubts . It starts by saying something that can be doubted (a thesis or main claim), and then responds to those doubts in order to persuade the reader that the main claim is true.

The dialogue form takes this interplay of doubt and persuasion, and makes it explicit – typically, one or more of the characters represents the reader’s view, while another character represents the author’s view. This allows the author to acknowledge the reader’s anticipated objections in the process of answering them.

IV. Examples of Dialogue in Literature

The dialogue form is not solely an ancient phenomenon. It was also used by Mohandas Gandhi in his famous Hind Swaraj or Indian Self Rule (1909), in which he argues that the Indian people must take control both of their country (then under British rule) and of their souls and emotions. The dialogue is between two characters: Editor, representing Gandhi, and Reader, representing skeptical readers who might disagree with his ideas.

The Bhagavad Gita , one of the most sacred texts in the Hindu faith, is structured as a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Prince Arjuna. The two divine heroes discuss virtue, ethical behavior, duty, and enlightenment over the course of a long chariot ride.

V. Examples of Dialogue in Pop Culture

In music, a song sung by two different artists is called a “duet,” but it sometimes has the same effect as a dialogue, with each vocalist expressing his or her own viewpoint. One recent example would be Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” in which the male and female singers have different perspectives on the story. Note that if both singers share the same perspective, it’s not really a dialogue.

Nearly all movies have a significant amount of dialogue – any time the characters speak to one another is dialogue! In many movies, the dialogue takes a back seat to the action, but this isn’t always the case – My Dinner With Andre , for example, is entirely about a long conversation between two characters talking about their lives and philosophies.

Although standup comedy almost always takes the form of a monologue, there are some exceptions – ventriloquists, for example, use dummies (puppets) to “respond” and set up their jokes. There are also routines, such as those of Abbott & Costello, or Monty Python, that employ dialogue in their comedy. Monty Python’s “Argument Clinic” sketch actually satirizes the dialogue form by creating a comically unsophisticated conversation. (For most of the sketch, the two characters are just saying “yes it is” and “no it isn’t” back and forth.)

VI. Related Terms

A monologue is an extended speech by a single character – the typical standup routine is an example of a monologue. This is also the form of almost all philosophical and academic writing today. However, there are still a few experimental authors who employ the dialogue form in writing out their arguments.

List of Terms

Definition of Dialogue

A dialogue is a literary technique in which writers employ two or more characters to be engaged in conversation with one another. In literature, it is a conversational passage, or a spoken or written exchange of conversation in a group, or between two persons directed towards a particular subject. The use of dialogues can be seen back in classical literature, especially in Plato’s Republic . Several other philosophers also used this technique for rhetorical and argumentative purposes. Generally, it makes a literary work enjoyable and lively.

Types of Dialogue

There are two types of dialogue in literature:

Examples of Dialogue in Literature

Let us see how famous writers have used dialogues for resonance and meaning in their works:

Example #1: Wuthering Heights (By Emily Bronte)

“Now he is here,” I exclaimed. “For Heaven’s sake, hurry down! Do be quick; and stay among the trees till he is fairly in.” “I must go, Cathy,” said Heathcliff, seeking to extricate himself from his companion’s arms. “I won’t stray five yards from your window…” “For one hour,” he pleaded earnestly. “Not for one minute,” she replied. “I must–Linton will be up immediately,” persisted the intruder.

Miss Bronte has employed surprises, opposition, and reversals in this dialogue like will-it-happen, when he says, “But, if I live, I’ll see you …” She has inserted these expressions in order to d evelop conflict in the plot .

Example #2: Crime and Punishment (By Fyodor Dostoevsky)

“But who did he tell it to? You and me?” “And Porfiry.” “What does it matter?” “And, by the way, do you have any influence over them, his mother and sister? Tell them to be more careful with him today …” “They’ll get on all right!” Razumikhin answered reluctantly. “Why is he so set against this Luzhin? A man with money and she doesn’t dislike him … “But what business is it of yours?” Razumikhin cried with annoyance.

In this excerpt, notice the use of conflict , emotions, information, conflict , reversal, and opposition flowing by. The ideas and information are expressed with perfect timing, but here an important point is that the characters are not responding with a definite answer. This is a beautiful piece of dialogue.

Example #3: A Dialogue Between Caliban and Ariel (By John Fuller)

Cal. “Have you no visions that you cannot name?” Ar. “A picture should extend beyond its frame, There being no limitation To bright reality: For all their declaration And complexity, Words cannot see.”

Fuller has written this poem in the dialogue form. Two characters, Caliban and Ariel, are conversing, revealing the conflict , as Caliban asks questions, and Ariel gives answers that make the poem alive and interesting.

Example #4: Pride and Prejudice (By Jane Austen)

“Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” “How so? How can it affect them?” “My dear Mr. Bennet, “replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them… My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now…she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.”

Austen explores the characters in her novels through dialogue. Likewise, in this conversation, the author unfolds Mrs. Bennet’s character as being stupid and worthless. Mr. Bennet makes fun of her wife, and this dialogue sums up their relationship and gives hints about their personalities.

Function of Dialogue

The use of dialogue is prevalent in fiction , but this technique can also be found in poetry, non- fiction , films, and drama . The dialogue has several purposes, such as advancing the plot of a narrative , and revealing the characters that cannot be understood otherwise. Further, it presents an exposition of the background or past events, and creates the tone of a narrative . Its usage can also be seen in modern literary works, where it colors the personalities of the characters, creates a conflict , highlights the vernacular , and moves the storyline forward. Moreover, dialogue makes a literary piece interesting and alive, and gives enjoyable experience to the readers.

Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, var cid='2639408223';var pid='ca-pub-3251641771602819';var slotid='div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_com-box-2-0';var ffid=1;var als=1001%1000;var container=document.getelementbyid(slotid);container.style.width='100%';var ins=document.createelement('ins');ins.id=slotid+'-asloaded';ins.classname='adsbygoogle ezasloaded';ins.dataset.adclient=pid;ins.dataset.adchannel=cid;if(ffid==2){ins.dataset.fullwidthresponsive='true';} ins.style.display='block';ins.style.minwidth=container.attributes.ezaw.value+'px';ins.style.width='100%';ins.style.height=container.attributes.ezah.value+'px';container.appendchild(ins);(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});window.ezostpixeladd(slotid,'stat_source_id',44);window.ezostpixeladd(slotid,'adsensetype',1);var lo=new mutationobserver(window.ezaslevent);lo.observe(document.getelementbyid(slotid+'-asloaded'),{attributes:true}); dialogue, definition of dialogue, common examples of dialogue.

Abbott: Strange as it may seem, they give ball players nowadays very peculiar names. Costello: Funny names? Abbott: Nicknames, nicknames. Now, on the St. Louis team we have Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third– Costello: That’s what I want to find out. I want you to tell me the names of the fellows on the St. Louis team. Abbott: I’m telling you. Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third– Costello: You know the fellows’ names? Abbott: Yes. Costello: Well, then who’s playing first? Abbott: Yes. Costello: I mean the fellow’s name on first base. Abbott: Who. Costello: The fellow playin’ first base. Abbott: Who. Costello: The guy on first base. Abbott: Who is on first. Costello: Well, what are you askin’ me for? Abbott: I’m not asking you–I’m telling you. Who is on first. Costello: I’m asking you–who’s on first? Abbott: That’s the man’s name. Costello: That’s who’s name? Abbott: Yes.

Significance of Dialogue in Literature

Examples of dialogue in literature.

ROMEO: (taking JULIET’s hand) If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. JULIET: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly devotion shows in this, For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss. ROMEO: Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? JULIET: Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. ROMEO: O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do. They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

( Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!— Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted— On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore— Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!” Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

‘The beer’s nice and cool,’ the man said. ‘It’s lovely,’ the girl said. ‘It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,’ the man said. ‘It’s not really an operation at all.’ The girl looked at the ground the table legs rested on. ‘I know you wouldn’t mind it, Jig. It’s really not anything. It’s just to let the air in.’ The girl did not say anything.

(“Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway)

JIM: Aw, aw, aw. Is it broken? LAURA: Now it is just like all the other horses. JIM: It’s lost its— LAURA: Horn! It doesn’t matter. . . . [smiling] I’ll just imagine he had an operation. The horn was removed to make him feel less—freakish!

ROSENCRANTZ: What are you playing at? GUILDENSTERN: Words, words. They’re all we have to go on.

Test Your Knowledge of Dialogue

Literary Devices – Dialogue

What is dialogue.

Dialogue is not just quotation. It is grimaces, pauses, adjustments of blouse buttons, doodles on a napkin, and crossings of legs.” – Jerome Stern, Making Shapely Fiction

Not all of the following are used together, however, dialogue consists of four main elements:

literary devices_dialogue

When characters start talking to each other, the story comes to life. A reader can gain a far deeper understanding of a character through their words and actions than they can from the narrative text. A couple of sentences of dialogue can reveal much about the background of a particular character. Are they wealthy or poor? What is their country of origin? Have they been well-educated? Are they feeling happy or sad? All of these questions can be answered with effective dialogue.

What should dialogue do?

What should dialogue not do?

nanowrimo_words

Tips for Writing Dialogue

Remember, most people speak quite simply. If you dress up a character’s speech too much it will sound unrealistic.

If you are using dialogue — say it aloud as you write it. Only then will it have the sound of speech.” – John Steinbeck

Better yet, grab a few friends and act it out, taking note of the speech tags and the actions of the speaker. This can be very entertaining and you’ll be able to see very quickly where your dialogue falls down.

Teacher by day and writer by night, Daniel Murphy has self-published three books and appeared in Writer's Edit's anthology, Kindling 2. Currently living in Port Augusta, his spare time is dominated by sports rehab and complicated by part-time study. He loves cooking, reading and road trips.

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What Is Dialogue In Literature And Film? The Definitive Guide

Dialogue is a literary device that is commonly used to create a more engaging narrative.

Dialogue is what helps the reader become emotionally invested in the story by allowing them to connect with a character.

Truly great dialogue is hard to come by, which is probably why so many books and movies are filled with terrible dialogue.

It’s not easy for a writer to make dialogue natural, believable, and compelling all at once.

What is dialogue

What is dialogue.

Dialogue is a speech, discussion or debate in the form of written or spoken words.

In literature and film, dialogue is a primary method of communication. Dialogue creates a more vivid image in the reader or viewer’s mind, which allows them to experience the story in a new way.

Tone determines how characters speak to each other through word choice, vocabulary and grammar.

Dialogue also reveals character traits and motivations. Good writers know that dialogue can do more than move the plot forward – it can create emotional responses from readers as well.

What Is Dialogue?

A dialogue is a conversation between two or more persons. You can see how this definition can be a little confusing because it doesn’t tell us what makes good dialogue great.

But there are many things that you can do to make sure your own dialogue sounds natural and realistic .

What Makes Good Dialogue?

Good dialogue helps the reader get to know your characters. When you write a story, you’re essentially creating an entire world for the reader to explore (if only for a little while).

One of the best ways to take the reader on this journey is through your characters’ conversations with one another.

Good dialogue answers questions like:

Examples Of Why Writers Use Dialogue

Dialogue is a powerful tool for writers. There are many examples of why writers use dialogue, and this article will discuss some of them.

Dialogue allows the writer to add depth to the characters in their story. It allows the reader to visualize what words are being spoken.

The dialogue can also help the reader connect with characters in the story.

Description of an example:

Example 1: Heather and James were having a fight because she did not want to go out with him anymore. “I can’t believe you cancelled on me again,” James said angrily. “It’s not like we have anything special going on,” Heather replied coldly. “We haven’t been going out that long.”

Description of another example:

Example 2: Heather and James have been dating a while, so they know each other incredibly well. When they talk, they often finish each other’s sentences or know exactly what the other one is thinking.

They are able to talk about almost everything together, but there is one thing that they have never talked about before: their feelings for each other.

Famous Lines Of Dialogue From Well-Known Movies

There are many memorable lines of dialogue in well-known movies. Some are funny, some are dramatic, and some are serious.

The most famous lines of dialogue generally include well-known movie quotes and can be said by many different characters.

Trying to remember a famous line of dialogue from a well-known movie? Ask yourself this question: “What famous line from a movie am I trying to remember?”

If you can answer that question, you’ll be well on your way to figuring out the name of that famous line from a movie. The most popular questions on the Internet search engines about movies involve the most memorable lines from movie scripts .

The names of these memorable movie lines are also included in books about famous lines from movies and in articles about famous lines from movies. Even if you’re not a movie buff, there’s no doubt that you’ve heard a few memorable lines of dialogue or even quoted one or two yourself.

But have you ever wondered when these memorable lines became popular? Well, now you can find out!

All you need to do is type in the first word or phrase that comes to mind when trying to remember the name of one of these interesting, humorous or even dramatic quotes.

Writing Effective Dialogue

Dialogue is a crucial component in fiction writing. Without dialogue, a story or novel would be rather dull to read.

Dialogue can also help the reader to develop a deeper understanding of the characters and their personalities and motivations.

Dialogue is one of the most important components in any story or novel because it allows you to develop your characters and gives them depth.

If you want to learn how to write effective dialogue, there are several things that you should keep in mind throughout the writing process. These include:

1. Make sure that the dialogue fits with the character’s personality. For example, if your main character is a man who doesn’t like to talk much, then you don’t want him suddenly speaking for pages on end.

2. Make sure that each character’s dialogue sounds different from others’. This will make it easier for readers to identify who is speaking without having to constantly refer back to previous paragraphs.

3. Make sure that each character has a unique way of speaking. Just because they’re talking doesn’t mean they have the same vocabulary or mannerisms.

Be careful not to overuse adverbs while writing dialogue. Adverbs aren’t necessarily bad, but they can make your dialogue seem forced and fake when used too often.

4. Make sure that your characters’ voices blend well together.

Examples Of Dialogue In Literature

Dialogue plays a key role in most of the stories we read and watch. It’s used to create characters and advance the plot, but dialogue is much more than just words spoken by characters.

define dialogue literature

It can be created when you take the time to understand who your characters are and what makes them tick.

Tone: Kindness, politeness, sarcasm, anger and frustration are all examples of tone in dialogue.

These different tones help add meaning to dialogue and make it more interesting as well as fun to read. If a character’s dialogue is written without any tone at all, the reader won’t get a clear picture of that character through his words.

Characters’ speech should also flow naturally from one line to another. If there are long awkward pauses in between statements made by two different characters, it can break up the flow of dialogue.

Shortening these breaks can fix this problem and make your dialogue sound more natural.

In contrast to a lack of tone, an overabundance of tone can also ruin dialogue. Characters should not speak with one voice throughout a story unless they are all talking about the same thing in the same way at the same time.

This will make it difficult for readers to differentiate between characters because they will all speak in the same voice.

Dialogue Examples In Film

Dialogue, one of the most important elements within any film, is a major part of every movie. It is a powerful storytelling tool that can help to convey emotions and actions of characters, as well as move the plot forward.

It is important for screenwriters to use dialogue in a way that will help the audience understand an individual’s personality traits, their surroundings, or what type of mood they are in. Dialogue can be powerful and beautiful when it is used correctly.

►Examples of Dialogue in Film

“The Godfather” (1972)

Dialogue Example: “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

This quote from this famous film demonstrates how dialogue can be used to convey emotion and action. In this case, Don Corleone uses dialogue to show that he will not take no for an answer.

His words show how strong his determination is, and how he will persuade others into doing what he wants them to do by using fear, if necessary. He uses his words in a way that others cannot say no to him because they know he means business and they do not want to anger him by saying no.

This quote also shows how words can be used as a weapon.

Why Do Writers Use Dialogue In Literature?

Dialogue is a powerful tool that can add depth and reality to characters, as well as advance the plot. It can also be used in an entirely different manner, as Mark Twain does in Huckleberry Finn to illustrate the dialect of Huck and Jim.

Dialogue allows for quick characterization, but it can also be used to develop character through conversation over time. Dialogue consists of much more than just conversation. It can mean emotional outbursts, twisted humor, or simply a character’s thoughts.

Note that the term dialogue refers to any form of verbal communication between two or more characters. When writing dialogue for your work of literature, you must keep in mind the length of your work.

A short story may only require one or two lines of dialogue while a novel may need several pages. Your choice will depend on what you’re trying to accomplish with each character and scene.

When writing dialogue, there are several elements that must be considered:

1. Characters – Who are they? What do they want? How do they feel? How do they talk?

2. Tone – Are they sarcastic, loving, angry?

3. Action – Does anything happen while they talk? Do they make references to things that have happened in the past?

4. Conflict – Is there conflict between the characters?

Dialogue As An Expository Tool

Dialogue is the most popular method of exposition in fiction. It is used to explain the plot and the characters’ feelings and thoughts, to present important facts and information, and to advance the story’s action.

In order to do all this, dialogue must be used wisely. Dialogue can be one of the most powerful tools in any writer’s toolbox, but it can also get out of hand if you’re not careful.

A good rule of thumb is that no one should say more than three lines at a time without another character speaking or some other action occurring. If you have four people talking in a row, it becomes hard for the reader to follow what’s going on.

An easy way to make sure your dialogue isn’t too long is by breaking it up into short segments that are interspersed with actions or reactions from other characters. The best dialogue contains only what’s needed for the scene at hand and nothing more.

Exposition should be kept at a minimum when using dialogue, because it’s easy for the reader to lose interest if too much backstory is doled out without any action taking place on page.

Dialogue should move the story forward as well as reveal character traits and personality through speech patterns, word choices and reactions to one another.

Dialogue As A Tool For Characterization

Dialogue is one of the most important aspects of storytelling, as it helps your readers get to know the characters better. The following tips will help you create believable characters through dialogue.

The tone of your dialogue conveys a lot about your characters. It tells us their age, education level, social status, and background and can be used to further characterize them.

For example, if two characters are having a conversation, and one of them uses a complex word that the other wouldn’t know, we can assume that the first character is well-educated and the second is not.

If two people from different social classes are talking with each other, there may be an air of formality in their speech as they unconsciously adapt their language.

While tone can be useful for characterization , it should never distract from the action or plot. Use it sparingly in order to create depth in your character’s personalities without confusing your readers.

Punctuation

Punctuation can also add flavor to your dialogue. If a character frequently interrupts other people when they speak, you could use an exclamation point at the end of his lines to show his agitation and impatience.

Recognizing Dialogue In Different Types Of Writing

Dialogue is one of the staples of American literature. It is used in most of the stories, poems and plays that you have read over the years.

In fact, dialogue is probably one of the things that has first attracted you to reading literature.

Telling or narrating a story without using any dialogue would be like watching a movie without any pictures. That is why many writers are able to create some really good stories using only dialogue and no narration.

Different types of writing styles use different types of dialogue. Here are examples of each type:

1. Newspaper or news magazine articles – These types of articles usually use very little dialogue because they are supposed to be objective and factual. However, if there is some incident or event that is described in detail, then it may contain some portions where characters speak out about the incident or event.

Dialogue in such articles consists mostly of facts and opinions stated by different characters involved in the incident or event. Example: “According to John Doe, he was standing at the corner when suddenly a car came speeding from around the corner”

2. Short stories – These types of stories usually focus on a single event or issue that has happened recently or sometime in the past. Most short stories contain lots of dialogue because they describe what happened.

Dialogue In Shakespeare’s Othello

In Shakespeare’s Othello, much of the drama and tension result from the rivalries and conflicts between different characters. One way to build dramatic tension is through dialogue, letting your characters express their desires and fears.

In Othello, these tensions are often reflected in the contrasting styles of dialogue. Iago’s speeches are often written in prose, while Desdemona’s and Cassio’s speeches are always written in verse.

The following passage from Act 2, Scene 3 features Iago delivering a lengthy speech in prose as he manipulates Roderigo into believing that Desdemona is cheating on Othello:

RODERIGO: By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman.

IAGO: Poor mercenary wretch! Thou wilt be taken with the next tide.

RODERIGO: To bait fish withal. Do thou hear?

IAGO: The Moor already changes with my poison. And thou — poor bucket where all others’ leaks run in —

IAGO: But this denoted a foregone conclusion; that he was framed for murder, being (as they say) dogged with a filthy counselor, who sets him on to it, or at least knowingly consents to it;

for mere Dialogue in Othello, written by William Shakespeare, is a very important aspect of the play.

It is everywhere. There is dialogue between all of the characters in the play.

It is through dialogue that we get to know the characters, what they are actually saying, and how they say it. The author uses this dialogue to set up the plot and to show how each character reacts to the situation.

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