Narrative and Theatrical Dialogue: Types and Techniques

Narrative and Theatrical Dialogue: Forms and Techniques

1) Narrative Dialogue in the Novel

The narrative dialogue: In narrative prose, especially the novel, narrative dialogue appears when the author introduces the characters' words into the relato, combining dialogue or monologue with the narrative. Dialogue or monologue is inserted into the narrative in the form of direct speech, which reproduces the exact words the characters say.

The narrator can explain or indicate who is speaking and how they speak through language and thought verbs (for example: answer, reply, accept, etc.). The usual typographical resources to introduce a character's words are quotation marks or dashes.

In the form of indirect speech, the narrator summarizes the characters' words in the third person. The reported words are normally inserted into the narrative as a subordinate clause dependent on a main verb of saying or thinking in the third person, and often introduced by a complementizer or an indirect interrogative (who, how, etc.).

When converting from direct to indirect style, changes typically occur in:

• Pronouns: first person often becomes third person;
• Tense: present may shift to past;
• Deictic expressions: time and place indicators change (here → there, now → then, etc.).

There is also the free indirect style, which combines elements of direct and indirect speech: the narrator, in the third person, repeats or echoes the character's words and thoughts as if they were part of the narrative voice, but without an explicit verb of saying.

And monologue, a variant of dialogue, is when a character speaks to themselves or addresses someone without expecting an answer. Monologues often use the first person, or the second person when the character addresses themselves.

Interior monologue (often called stream of consciousness) reproduces the character's most private thoughts and feelings. To reflect inner experience, the text may present seemingly meaningless associations, disorder, repetitions, and fragmentary syntax. This technique was widely used in twentieth-century novels; a famous example is the interior monologue closing the novel Ulysses by James Joyce.

2) Theatrical Dialogue in Drama

Theatrical dialogue: In dramatic texts, dialogue or monologue—the form of spoken text—is the principal element. In theatre, there is a verbal exchange between characters that is directed toward the public (the audience), who are the real recipients of the speech. Through dialogue and dramatic action the characters are created and characterized.

In dramatic texts, dialogues are usually introduced by the name of the character who speaks. A monologue in drama is the speech of a character who addresses another character, the audience, or speaks to themself.

Theatrical texts also usually contain stage directions (sometimes referred to here as "dimensions"), which are exceptions in a text that otherwise gives the floor to the characters. These include scene descriptions and instructions that shape how the text must be performed: movements and gestures of the actors, costumes, lighting, props, and other practical notes.

In summary, the author provides stage directions to indicate how the play should be staged; these directions are then interpreted by the director. Stage directions and their extent vary greatly depending on the author and the historical period.

Typical Elements in Dramatic Texts

• Character names marking lines of dialogue
• Dialogue lines that convey action and motivation
• Monologues revealing inner states or persuasive appeals
• Stage directions describing setting, movement, and technical details
• Scene descriptions that frame time and place

Note: The conventions and typographical choices for both narrative and theatrical dialogue vary by language, author, and historical period, but the core distinctions—direct, indirect, free indirect, and monologic forms—remain central to how speech is represented in literature.