S2 Exercise 11: Dialogue

DIALOGUE

Dialogue is the technical term for the words spoken by a character in a work of fiction and what a character says often tell us a great deal about that character and about the relationship he/she has with the person to whom he/she is speaking.

Take a close look at the following extract from “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by JK Rowling.  In the extract we read the first words uttered by Harry and we learn a great deal about his Aunt Petunia and about Harry’s relationship with her.

“‘Up!  Get up!  Now!’

Harry woke with a start.  His aunt rapped on the door again.

‘Up!’ she screeched.

His aunt was back outside the door.

‘Are you up yet?’ she demanded.

‘Nearly,’ said Harry.

‘Well, get a move on, I want you to look after the bacon.   And don’t dare let it burn, I want everything perfect on Duddy’s birthday’.

Harry groaned.

‘What did you say?’ his aunt snapped back through the door.

‘Nothing! Nothing...’”

 1) “Screeched” is an excellent example of a verb used to convey the tone employed by Aunt Petunia. Identity the other two verbs Rowling uses to convey Aunt Petunia’s tone.

 2) Aunt Petunia’s attitude towards Harry is clear from what she says and from how she says it. What is her opinion of Harry? Support your answer with words and phrases used by Aunt Petunia.

 3) Which word sums up Harry’s feelings towards his aunt?