Dialogue (literary device)
Dialogue, as a literary device, refers to the conversation between two or more characters, serving as a crucial element in storytelling across various forms of literature, including poetry, novels, plays, and films. The term originates from Greek, with "dia" meaning "through" and "legein" meaning "to speak." This interactive exchange not only reveals character traits and dialects but also propels the plot forward. Unlike a monologue, which features a single speaker's prolonged discourse, dialogue captures the dynamic interaction between multiple voices. Historically, dialogue has been a significant literary form, prevalent in ancient Asian, Middle Eastern, and Greek literature, where it evolved into a genre for philosophical debates, notably seen in works by Plato. In contemporary contexts, dialogue remains central in theatrical arts and written fiction, often reflecting the diverse perspectives present in society. Additionally, dialogue is recognized as an important educational and social tool, fostering critical thinking and egalitarian communication, as advocated by theorists like Paulo Freire and Mikhail Bakhtin. This literary device also finds resonance in theological discussions, where it emphasizes the connection between followers and the divine.
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Dialogue (literary device)
Dialogue is the conversation between two or more subjects. The word “dialogue” comes from the Greek roots dia, meaning “through,” and legein, meaning “to speak.” Dialogue is the primary form of conversation in everyday life. As a literary device, dialogue between characters is found in poems, stories, novels, plays and films. Dialogue aids characterization, as it reveals characters’ dialects, and it is a means through which they disclose information about themselves. Dialogue also helps advance the plot. Contrary to a monologue, which is a prolonged speech given by one person, dialogue is the recorded conversation between more than one speaker.
Overview
Before its utilization as a literary device, dialogue was a primary literary form. In Asian and Middle Eastern literature, hymns and other passages were composed entirely in the form of dialogues. In ancient Greek writing, dialogue became its own genre entirely. Plato, and later, Socrates, composed long philosophical works in the form of arguments. Nearly all of Plato’s writings use this form of opinionated conversation to debate philosophical ideas. One well-known example of a Platonic dialogue is The Symposium. In The Symposium, the participants in the conversation—intellectual and literary figures—debate the definition and categorization of love. The entire text is composed of conversation, thus it is referred to as one of Plato’s dialogues. Scholars today still use philosophical dialogues to bring literary qualities to their intellectual explorations.
The theatrical arts are the most prominent site of dialogue as a literary device. Most plays and films are composed primarily of dialogue, which serves to characterize the speakers and advance the plot through conversation. This dialogue can occur in the form of speaking or writing. For example, in Quiara Alegria Hudes’ Pulitzer Prize–winning play, Water by the Spoonful, the characters speak to each other in the action of the play, and they interact virtually in an online chat room, where their dialogue takes the form of written language. The characters engage in dialogue in both speech and writing, and in material and virtual contexts. While dialogue is the primary literary device in theatrical arts, it is also commonly found in written fiction.
The idea that dialogue is an important social and interpersonal process is emphasized in the work of many social theorists. Educator Paulo Freire advocated for the achievement of greater social equality through a revolution in the educational system. His theory calls for an egalitarian model of the classroom in which students and teachers are on the same level, engaging in constant dialogue with each other. According to Freire, dialogue-based education (what he refers to as the “problem-posing” method) cultivates critical thinking skills, which empower students to engage in dialogue outside of the classroom, thereby improving society. Philosopher and social theorist Mikhail Bakhtin also emphasized the importance of dialogue to develop an understanding of the multiple social and cultural perspectives inherent in any issue.
Dialogue is also an encouraged form in theological contexts. Some religions encourage their followers to be “in dialogue” with a higher spirit.
Bibliography
Goldhill, Samuel, ed. The End of Dialogue in Antiquity. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2008. Print.
Kennedy, Andrew K. Dramatic Dialogue: The Duologue of Personal Encounter. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1983. Print.
Khan, Charles H. Plato and the Post-Socratic Dialogue: The Return to The Philosophy of Nature. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2013. Print.
Nightingale, Andrea Wilson. Genres in Dialogue: Plato and the Construction of Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2000. Print.
Phillips, Louise. The Promise of Dialogue. Philadelphia: Benjamins, 2011. Print.
Thomas, Bronwen. Fictional Dialogue: Speech and Conversation in the Modern and Postmodern Novel. Lincoln: U of Nebraska P, 2012. Print.
Westoby, Peter, and Gerard Dowling, eds. Theory and Practice of Dialogical Community Development: International Perspectives. New York: Routledge, 2013. Print.
Womack, Peter. Dialogue. New York: Routledge, 2011. Print.
Zappen, James P. The Rebirth of Dialogue: Bakhtin, Socrates, and the Rhetorical Tradition. Albany: State U of New York P, 2004. Print.