Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Dialogue literature
(1,399 words)

1. Definition

The term “dialogue literature” denotes a literary genre the defining characteristic of which is alternating speech involving at least two real or fictional characters. It is distinguished from “dialogue” as a structural element in other text types like the novel in that it is composed entirely in direct speech, with the exception of any framework story. It differs from drama in the lack of a fully worked-out plot, although the boundary here is somewhat fluid. Dialogues during which p…

Cite this page
Müller, Gernot Michael, “Dialogue literature”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_018296>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20170626



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