How Dialogue Reveals Character: Techniques and Examples from Classic Novels

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🗣️ Dialogue is conversation between characters.
• 🎭 It reveals character traits, motivations, and relationships.
• ✍️ Techniques include: word choice, tone, subtext, and dialect.
• 📖 Classic novels provide rich examples of character development through dialogue.
• 💡 Analyzing dialogue enhances understanding of characters and themes.

✍️ Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is NOT a primary function of dialogue in literature?
   1. A. To advance the plot
   2. B. To reveal character
   3. C. To describe the setting in detail
   4. D. To establish the tone
2. What does 'subtext' refer to in the context of dialogue?
   1. A. The literal meaning of the words spoken
   2. B. The underlying or implied meaning
   3. C. The use of footnotes in a script
   4. D. The volume at which the dialogue is spoken
3. In *Pride and Prejudice*, what does Elizabeth Bennet's witty and sharp dialogue reveal about her character?
   1. A. Her shyness and introversion
   2. B. Her intelligence and independence
   3. C. Her submissiveness and obedience
   4. D. Her lack of education
4. Which technique involves a character saying one thing but meaning another?
   1. A. Direct characterization
   2. B. Monologue
   3. C. Verbal irony
   4. D. Exposition
5. How can an author use dialect in dialogue to reveal character?
   1. A. To confuse the reader
   2. B. To indicate a character's social or regional background
   3. C. To make the dialogue longer
   4. D. To show the author's linguistic skills
6. In *Wuthering Heights*, what does the rough and passionate dialogue between Heathcliff and Catherine reveal?
   1. A. Their mutual dislike
   2. B. Their deep, tumultuous connection
   3. C. Their calm and rational nature
   4. D. Their indifference towards each other
7. What is the effect of using formal language in a character's dialogue?
   1. A. It always makes the character seem untrustworthy.
   2. B. It can suggest the character is educated, upper-class, or reserved.
   3. C. It indicates the character is unintelligent.
   4. D. It makes the story more exciting.