Dialogue and What Characters Say

Core Idea

Dialogue is the words that characters say to each other in a story. In books, dialogue usually appears inside quotation marks. Paying attention to what characters say tells you a lot about who they are -- a kind character speaks differently from a mean one, and a scared character sounds different from a brave one. Dialogue also moves the story forward as characters make plans, argue, and share information.

How It's Best Learned

Find the quotation marks in a story and read the dialogue out loud using different voices for different characters. Ask: What does this line tell you about the character? Try rewriting a scene where the character says something completely different and see how it changes the story.

Common Misconceptions

• Thinking quotation marks are just decoration; they signal that a character is speaking.
• Believing the narrator and the characters are the same voice; the narrator tells the story, but dialogue is the characters talking.
• Assuming characters always say exactly what they mean; sometimes characters lie, exaggerate, or hold back in dialogue, just like real people.

Explainer

Dialogue is the words characters speak to each other in a story. You recognize it by the quotation marks around the words: "Hello!" says one character. "How are you?" replies another. Dialogue brings characters to life because you hear their voices—the way they speak tells you something about who they are.

Different characters speak differently. A tough character might use short, direct sentences. A nervous character might use many words and ask lots of questions. A funny character makes jokes. A wise character speaks thoughtfully. When you read dialogue carefully, you learn about each character's personality without the author having to describe it. They show you through their words.

Dialogue also shows how characters relate to each other. If two friends are talking, they might be warm and teasing. If a character is talking to someone they are scared of, they might speak quietly and carefully. A character arguing with someone might raise their voice (the author might write THIS in ALL CAPS or with an exclamation mark!). The dialogue tells you what is happening between the characters.

As you read, pay attention to dialogue. Ask yourself: What does this character sound like? Are they kind, mean, funny, or shy? How do I know? What does this conversation tell me about what the characters want or feel? Reading dialogue like this makes stories come alive. You are not just seeing words on a page; you are hearing characters talk and imagine their faces, their tone of voice, and their emotions. This is what makes you care about characters and what happens to them.