Dialogue Analysis: Examples from 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

📚 Quick Study Guide

🔍 Dialogue reveals character traits, relationships, and motivations. 🗣️ Pay attention to word choice (diction), tone, and what is *not* said (subtext). 🤝 Dialogue advances the plot by creating conflict, providing information, and building suspense. 🎭 Consider the social and historical context of the characters and their interactions. ❗ Look for patterns or recurring themes in a character's speech. 📜 Note dialect or slang, which can indicate a character's background or social status. 💡 Remember that good dialogue sounds natural but is carefully crafted to serve a purpose.

Practice Quiz

1. Which character's dialogue is most strongly associated with moral wisdom and integrity?
   1. A. Bob Ewell
   2. B. Atticus Finch
   3. C. Aunt Alexandra
   4. D. Dolphus Raymond
2. What does Scout's dialogue often reveal about her character?
   1. A. Her prejudice and conformity
   2. B. Her maturity and understanding of adult issues
   3. C. Her innocence and growing awareness of social injustice
   4. D. Her desire to leave Maycomb
3. How does Harper Lee use dialogue to portray the social hierarchy of Maycomb?
   1. A. By giving all characters the same vocabulary and speech patterns
   2. B. By varying dialect and word choice to distinguish between social classes
   3. C. By having only the upper class speak in the novel
   4. D. By ignoring the way people speak
4. What can be inferred from Bob Ewell's crude and aggressive language?
   1. A. His high level of education
   2. B. His good intentions
   3. C. His ignorance and malice
   4. D. His respect for the Finch family
5. Which of the following best describes Atticus Finch's typical use of dialogue?
   1. A. Loud and confrontational
   2. B. Calm, reasoned, and patient
   3. C. Sarcastic and dismissive
   4. D. Emotional and irrational
6. How does the dialogue between Jem and Scout evolve throughout the novel?
   1. A. They grow further apart and rarely speak
   2. B. It becomes more argumentative and hostile
   3. C. It reflects their growing understanding of the adult world and its complexities
   4. D. It remains static, never changing from their childhood banter
7. What is the significance of Dolphus Raymond's dialogue regarding his feigned alcoholism?
   1. A. It shows his genuine addiction
   2. B. It reveals his desire to be part of Maycomb society
   3. C. It explains his actual fondness for alcohol
   4. D. It provides a way for the community to understand and dismiss his choice to live with the Black community