WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT?
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DIALOGUE EXAMPLES
Dialogue: a literary technique in which writers employ two or more characters to be engaged in
conversation with each other; in other words, dialogue is when characters talk to each other
Definition
Examples
Internal
Dialogue
In internal dialogue, the
characters speak to
themselves and reveal
their personalities; also
referred to as internal
monologue
Surely that wasn’t the last cookie.
I wonder what the big deal is, she pondered.
Their excitement grew. Where are we going?
External
Dialogue
With external dialogue, a
simple conversation is had
between two characters.
“Hey!” she whispered, “Are you sleeping?”
“Knock, knock,” he said.
“Who’s there?” they asked.
“Whoa look out!” they cried.
“I see you, I see you,” he said, waving and grinning wildly.
https://literarydevices.net/dialogue/
Punctuating Dialogue:
We used the video “Grammar for Kids: Punctuating Dialogue” to explore the rules for
punctuating dialogue. Remember to review your external (spoken) dialogue for:
opening and closing
quotation marks
comma placement
capitalization
beginning and ending
dialogue tags
“Grammar for Kids: Punctuating Dialogue” by Macbeth Academy via YouTube
Art Choices:
Choose one of the works of art (circle below):
Old Woman (Woman with
Gloves)
Pablo Picasso
Two Women on the Shore
Edvard Munch
The Scream
Edvard Munch
American Gothic
Grant Wood
Self-Portrait with Glasses and
Goatee
Jessurun de Mesquita
Rokkasen from Momoyogusa
Kamisaka Sekka
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT?
Writing Dialogue:
Write four sentences of dialogue in which your character responds to the prompt: “How am I
feeling? What am I thinking?” Use external dialogue between characters, internal dialogue, or
both. Imagine an event or situation that is driving this dialogue for inspiration.
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Flipgrid Post:
In a Flipgrid post, you will present your chosen work of art and record your dialogue along with
the picture.
● Upload your chosen work of art in the Flipgrid post
● Record your dialogue in the post. If the dialogue is between two characters, try two
voices!
● Write a reflection of your process below:
What was your method for developing your dialogue? What was the impact of the art on your
dialogue development? How does the dialogue change the impact of the art? How can art
facilitate conversations?
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