Skip to the content
The Library
of Alexandria
Sign inTry 3 months free3 months free

Dialogue

Literary term · say it DYE-uh-log

Dialogue is conversation between two or more characters in a story, play, or poem. It can reveal what characters want, show how they relate to one another, and move events forward.

Ways dialogue works

Revealing character

What characters say can reveal their habits, values, and fears. Their replies may show more than they intend.

At the beginning of Pride and Prejudice, Mrs. Bennet urges her husband to visit their new wealthy neighbour. Their conversation reveals her concern with marrying off their daughters and his habit of teasing her.

In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Showing conflict

Dialogue lets characters challenge, refuse, or misunderstand one another. An argument can bring a hidden disagreement into the open.

In Jane Eyre, Jane refuses to stay with Rochester after learning that he is already married. Their conversation sets her love for him against her determination to keep her self-respect.

In Jane Eyre: An Autobiography by Charlotte Brontë

Moving events forward

A conversation can lead to a decision, disclose important news, or change what happens next.

In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth when he wants to abandon the plan to kill Duncan. Their exchange ends with Macbeth agreeing to carry out the murder.

In Macbeth by William Shakespeare

How to spot dialogue

  1. Look for quotation marks or character names marking turns to speak.
  2. Notice how each speaker responds to the other.
  3. Ask what the exchange reveals or changes.

What is the difference between dialogue and a monologue?

Dialogue is an exchange between characters, while a monologue is an extended speech by one character. A monologue may have listeners, but they do not take regular turns in the speech as they would in a conversation.

Does dialogue always need quotation marks?

No, dialogue does not always need quotation marks. Plays usually identify speakers by name, and some novels use dashes or other clear patterns instead. The important clue is that characters are speaking to one another, not the particular punctuation around their words.

Related terms

MonologueCharacterizationConflictDialectDictionSoliloquy

Books where you can see Dialogue

Pride and PrejudiceA young woman questions her judgments about love and rank.8 h 30 min readJane AustenJane Eyre: An AutobiographyAn orphan seeks love without giving up her self-respect.12 h 50 min readCharlotte BrontëMacbethA Scottish general pursues a crown through murder.1 h 20 min readWilliam Shakespeare
Find Dialogue in 200,000+ classics

200,000+ classics to read and hear, and printed books, large print included, at cost.

Try 3 months free