Top 6 Best Essays on "Dialogue, Monologue, and Inner Monologue in Narrative Texts" for 9th Grade

Basic Knowledge

What is Dialogue?

Dialogue refers to the exchange of speech between two or more people. In a text, dialogue is represented by bullet points at the beginning of each speech turn (each line of dialogue is one turn).

What is Monologue?

A monologue is a speech by one person that is not directed at anyone or is spoken to oneself. When a monologue is spoken out loud, it is preceded by a bullet point. When it is internal (not spoken aloud), it is not preceded by a bullet point. This type is called an inner monologue.

- Both dialogue and monologue help create a realistic atmosphere in the narrative, delving into the characters' minds, revealing their personalities and psychological changes, making the story more vivid...

Exploring Dialogue, Monologue, and Inner Monologue in Narrative Texts

Pages 176 - 177 in the Textbook

Instructions: Read the excerpt and think critically to answer the following questions [...]

Answer:

a) The first three sentences in the excerpt contain two bullet points, a colon, a question mark, and an exclamation point, indicating a conversation between at least two people in the group of evacuees.

b) The sentence: “Hà, how annoying, stop...” is something Mr. Hai says to himself, not to anyone. It is a monologue, not a dialogue (because it does not relate to the ongoing conversation among the evacuees). Mr. Hai speaks this to himself in an attempt to ignore the topic being discussed by others.

The excerpt also includes a similar monologue: “You guys are eating, or are you eating something that makes you shamefully sell out to the enemy?”

c) The sentences: “Are they children of the traitor village too? How disgusting, at their age...” are internal monologues, where Mr. Hai questions himself.

d) Through the dialogues of the evacuees, the author conveys the story's situation and atmosphere. These dialogues reveal the intense hatred the resistance fighters feel towards collaborators, expressing patriotism and resolve to continue the fight.

The monologues and inner monologues of Mr. Hai convey his shock, sorrow, and shame as a patriotic person who loves his homeland upon hearing the news about his village's betrayal. His character is vividly presented without the narrator's direct description.

Practice

Question 1 - Page 178 in the Textbook

Analyze the effect of the dialogue form in the excerpt [...]

Answer:

- Mrs. Hai’s hesitant words when trying to inform her husband about the news that their village had betrayed (“I heard people gossip...”) show her worry and fear that the landlord might overhear. - Mr. Hai’s refusal to respond and his curt, irritable replies reveal his frustration, sorrow, and disappointment upon learning that his village had sided with the French.

Question 2 - Page 179 in the Textbook

Write a short narrative using dialogue, monologue, and inner monologue.

Suggested Tips:

When choosing a story, ensure that it has characters engaging in dialogue, and includes moments where characters reflect and speak to themselves.

Sample Paragraph:

That afternoon, I returned home from school feeling melancholic because a friend had just moved away. I didn’t feel like eating, so I just collapsed on the bed. My mother called me down for dinner, but I simply shouted back:

- I’m too tired to eat, you two go ahead without me.

As I lay in bed, I couldn’t help but berate Hoa for leaving without telling me. You were so thoughtless, so selfish. If only you had said something earlier, I wouldn’t have felt this way. Lost in those thoughts, I started to cry uncontrollably, then fell asleep. The next morning, I woke up to find a letter beside me. I recognized the handwriting immediately:

- Oh my gosh, it’s Hoa’s letter!

Reading the letter, I finally understood my friend’s decision to transfer and the reason they hadn’t told me. I no longer felt angry with Hoa. They will always be someone I hold dear.

A. GUIDELINES FOR UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

I. Exploring Dialogue, Monologue, and Inner Monologue in Narrative Texts

In narrative texts, dialogue, monologue, and inner monologue are essential methods to portray characters.

Dialogue is the exchange of words between two or more people. In a narrative, dialogue is typically shown with bullet points before each speaker’s turn (each line is a new bullet point).

Monologue refers to a person speaking either to themselves or to an imagined listener. When the speaker voices the monologue, it is marked with bullet points before the speech; when it is internal (unspoken), no bullet point precedes the line. The case without bullet points is called an inner monologue.

Example 1:

Today, Mr. Hac came to my house. As soon as he saw me, he immediately announced:

"Cậu Vàng is gone, sir!"
"He was sold?"
"Sold! They just caught him!"
Mr. Hac tried to appear cheerful, but his smile was strained, and his eyes filled with tears. I wanted to embrace him and cry with him. (Nam Cao)

Example 2:

Oh! When we don't make an effort to understand the people around us, we see them as foolish, ignorant, petty, or even despicable—just excuses for us to be cruel. We never see them as victims. We never feel sympathy... My wife isn't evil, but she's suffered so much. A person with a painful leg never forgets the pain long enough to think of anything else.

When people are in extreme pain, they cannot think about others. Their good nature is buried under worry, sorrow, and selfishness. I understand this, so I feel sad but can't bring myself to be angry.

(Nam Cao)

1. Read the excerpt from the story *The Village* by Kim Lan.

2. Answer the questions:

a. In the first three lines of the excerpt, at least three women refugees are conversing. This is indicated by the back-and-forth exchange. The content of their speech targets the person they are speaking to, and this is marked with two bullet points before each response.

b. The line “Gosh, it’s hot, let’s go home...” by Mr. Hai is not dialogue. It does not address anyone specific, nor does it relate to the ongoing conversation. Moreover, no one responds to it. It is, in fact, a monologue where Mr. Hai is speaking to himself, perhaps to distract or escape from the situation. Another such line in this excerpt is:

“Why are you people eating food while selling out to the French and bringing shame to yourselves?”
c. Sentences like: “Are they also children of the traitors in the village?” or “Are they also despised by others?” are monologues Mr. Hai asks himself. These thoughts occur silently, without being voiced, and are internal monologues, so they are not marked with bullet points.

d. The purpose of these language forms:

Dialogue adds authenticity to the story, making it feel closer to real life. It also reveals the anger of the refugees towards the villagers of Chợ Dầu.

Monologues and inner monologues allow the author to deeply explore Mr. Hai’s inner turmoil, grief, and pain when he learns that his village has sided with the enemy.

B. GUIDELINES FOR PRACTICE

1. This exercise asks students to analyze the effect of dialogue in the excerpt from *The Village* by Kim Lan.

The excerpt portrays a strained conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Hai after hearing that their village has sided with the French. There are three exchanges (from Mrs. Hai), but only two responses (from Mr. Hai). The first response from Mrs. Hai is not answered by Mr. Hai, who just lies silently on the bed. In response to the second question, Mr. Hai simply shifts and replies with a single question: “What?” On the third occasion, he responds curtly, “I know!”

The effect of the dialogue is that the author highlights Mr. Hai's deep despair, sorrow, and frustration after hearing the news about his village.

2. This exercise asks students to write a short story that incorporates dialogue, monologue, and inner monologue.

I. BASIC KNOWLEDGE

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions:

Someone asked:

– I heard the villagers of Chợ Dầu were very spirited… What happened?

– Well, now they’ve fallen into disgrace!

Mr. Hai paid for his water, stood up, smacked his lips, gave a brief sarcastic laugh, and stretched his body, saying loudly:

– Gosh, it’s so hot, let’s go home...

Mr. Hai pretended to move away from the group and then walked off. The chatter of the new refugees still echoed in his ears. He clearly heard the shrill voice of a woman nursing her baby:

– Damn their souls! The poor steal and get sympathy, but those traitors who sell their country deserve no mercy!

Mr. Hai lowered his head and walked on. He briefly thought about the landlady.

When he got home, Mr. Hai collapsed onto the bed. His children, sensing something was off, quietly huddled together in the corner, whispering and playing with each other.

Looking at his children, Mr. Hai felt a wave of sorrow, tears welling up in his eyes. Were they also children of the traitors from Chợ Dầu? Were they also despised and rejected? Damn it, at their age... Mr. Hai clenched his fists and hissed:

– You people eat food and still go around doing things that shame us like selling out to the French!

(Kim Lan, *The Village*)

In the first three lines of the excerpt, who is speaking to whom? How many people are involved in the conversation? How can we tell it is a back-and-forth dialogue?

Hint: Dialogue is a form of exchange between two or more people. In written form, dialogue is marked by bullet points before each speaker's words (each new line is a new bullet point). In the first three lines of this excerpt, at least two women are involved; each statement targets the other person, and each is marked by a bullet point. This is a form of dialogue.

2. Is the sentence “Gosh, it’s so hot, let’s go home...” from Mr. Hai considered dialogue? Why or why not? Are there any other similar sentences in the passage?

Hint: This is not dialogue because it is a single statement, not directed at anyone, and does not involve a conversation. There is no response to it. It is a monologue. Monologue refers to speech directed inwardly or to no one in particular. When voiced, it is marked by a bullet point. This characteristic is seen in another monologue: “You people eat food and still go around doing things that shame us like selling out to the French!”

3. The sentence “Are they also children of the traitors from Chợ Dầu? Are they also despised and rejected?”—what are the similarities and differences compared to the monologues above?

Hint: This sentence is similar to the previous monologues except for two things: it is not spoken aloud and it is not marked by a bullet point. This is an inner monologue.

4. What is the impact of dialogue, monologue, and inner monologue in the passage in terms of recreating the atmosphere of the scene and the attitudes of the refugees when Mr. Hai encounters them? How does the author use these forms to depict Mr. Hai’s psychological state?

Hint: The author uses dialogue and monologue to bring the atmosphere of the refugee scene to life, making the story feel real and grounded. These forms also express the refugees' anger and contempt toward the betrayal by the people of Chợ Dầu. This situation plays a crucial role in revealing Mr. Hai’s internal emotional conflict, and it is key to the development of his character in *The Village*, marking a major shift in his emotions and the overall theme of the story.

II. SKILL DEVELOPMENT

1. Analyze the effect of dialogue in the following excerpt:

Late into the night, Mrs. Hai got up. She quietly went to the kitchen, started the fire, and sat down to tally up the earnings from her business. She counted the crab money, the noodle money, the bean money, the candy money... Still, the familiar low murmuring voice.

– Hey, is he asleep yet?

Mr. Hai lay motionless on the bed, not responding.

– Is he asleep?

– What?

Mr. Hai shifted slightly.

– I heard some rumors...

Mr. Hai snapped:

– I know!

Mrs. Hai went silent. The room became eerily quiet...

(Kim Lan, *The Village*)

Hint:

– Who is involved in the dialogue? What is the context?

– What is the topic of the conversation?

– How does each character express their attitude in the dialogue?

– What is unusual about the way the dialogue unfolds?

– How does this dialogue contribute to the atmosphere in the Hai household when they hear the news of their village siding with the enemy?

– Pay attention to Mr. Hai’s responses and how the dialogue reflects his feelings of sadness, disappointment, and pain for a man so deeply attached to his homeland.

2. Write a short passage on a self-chosen topic incorporating all three forms: dialogue, monologue, and inner monologue.

Hint: You may base your writing on the themes suggested in the exercises of Essay 3.

I. Basic Knowledge

1. Read the text

2.

a. The first three sentences in the excerpt describe a conversation between two evacuees, who are exchanging words.

It follows a conversational structure directed toward the communication participants.

b. The sentence “Ha, the sun is really hot. Let’s go back...” is not a dialogue because the speaker is talking to themselves, with no response from anyone else.

- The words of the female evacuee: “Damn their parents! Each one deserves a slap!” are not addressed to anyone specifically and there’s no response.

→ This is a monologue.

Monologues are spoken aloud and often include dash markers like “Why are you eating like this... such humiliation!”

c. The sentence “They are just children from the traitor village… at their age…”

→ This is an inner monologue.

d. Dialogue creates the atmosphere for the text, expressing the resentment of the evacuees toward the villagers of Chợ Dầu, and allows the characters to express their inner thoughts.

Monologues and inner dialogues help the author depict the painful, agonizing emotions of Mr. Hai upon hearing that Chợ Dầu village sided with the enemy.

II. Practice

Question 1 (Page 178, 9th Grade Literature Book 1)

- The conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Hai is not ordinary.

- There are three exchanges, but only two responses.

+ Mrs. Hai’s first line is unanswered by Mr. Hai.

+ Mr. Hai gives brief responses to her following lines: “What? I already know.”

→ The dialogue shows Mr. Hai’s sorrow, sadness, and disappointment.

Question 2: Write a paragraph on a chosen topic that includes all three forms of dialogue, monologue, and inner monologue.

I had to spend a week in the hospital because of illness. Today, I was finally discharged. As I walked home, my joy was mixed with anxiety. I was worried about how I would catch up on all the missed schoolwork from the past few days. As I entered the house, my little sister Hoa jumped up excitedly and said:

- Anh Hưng, there’s a small girl who told Dad she is your friend. She comes every day to take your notebooks and copy your lessons. She even gave me some candy!

- Oh, really.

Without even noticing the candy in her hands, I rushed straight to my study. My hands trembled as I hurriedly flipped through the blank pages of my notebook. Could it be... could it be Hà? Yes, it’s Hà. I froze. She had been secretly helping me all this time. I had even doubted her once. At that moment, a wave of indescribable feelings rushed through me. Unable to hold it in, I exclaimed:

- Hà, thank you so much!

EXPLORING THE ELEMENTS OF DIALOGUE, MONOLOGUE, AND INNER MONOLOGUE IN NARRATIVE TEXTS

1. Read the excerpt

2. Answer the questions

a. In the first three sentences of the excerpt, who is speaking to whom? How many people are involved in the conversation? What indicators suggest this is an exchange of dialogue?

b. Who is Mr. Hai addressing with the line "Ha, the sun is so hot ..."? Is this a dialogue? Why or why not? Are there other similar sentences in the excerpt? Please provide examples.

c. Who is asking the questions in the sentences "They are ... at that age"? Why are these sentences not preceded by a dash like the others?

d. How do these forms of expression affect the development of the story and the attitudes of the evacuees when Mr. Hai meets them at noon?

Answer:

a. In the first three sentences of the excerpt, at least two female evacuees are having a conversation. The clues are the back-and-forth exchange of words and the direction of speech aimed at the other person, with two dashes used to indicate each speaker.

b.

- This is not a dialogue. Mr. Hai's speech is not directed at anyone in particular and is unrelated to the topic being discussed by the two evacuee women. Moreover, after his loud statement, there is no response. Actually, the old man is speaking to himself, making an offhand comment to divert attention. This is a monologue.

- The excerpt also contains similar phrases, such as:

“The old man clenched his fist and shouted:

- Are you all eating some rice or what, and then doing the traitorous work of the enemy to bring this disgrace upon us!”

c.

- These are Mr. Hai's questions directed at himself.

- These questions are spoken aloud but occur silently in his mind and emotions. They reflect his inner turmoil and pain when he hears that his village, Chợ Dầu, has sided with the enemy. Because they are only thoughts, they are not followed by a dash, representing inner monologue.

d.

- The dialogues help set a realistic atmosphere for the story, reflecting the anger of the evacuees toward the Chợ Dầu villagers, creating a situation to delve deeper into the characters' emotions.

- These forms of monologue and inner monologue then allow the author to profoundly portray Mr. Hai's anguish and sorrow when hearing that his once-proud village sided with the enemy, making the story more vivid.

Part II: PRACTICE

Answer to Question 1 (Page 178, 9th Grade Literature Book 1):

Analyze the role of dialogue in the excerpt.

Detailed answer:

- The dialogue between Mr. and Mrs. Hai is not ordinary.

- There are three exchanges (from Mrs. Hai), but only two responses. Mrs. Hai’s first line is unanswered by Mr. Hai: "lying down on the bed without saying anything". In the second question, Mr. Hai responds with a simple question: "What?". In the third response, Mr. Hai answers curtly, raising his voice: "I know already!". This dialogue highlights Mr. Hai's feelings of despair, sadness, and disappointment when he hears that his village has joined the enemy.

Answer to Question 2 (Page 179, 9th Grade Literature Book 1):

Write a paragraph using dialogue, monologue, and inner monologue.

Detailed answer:

That afternoon, when I returned from school, I felt a deep sadness because a friend had just moved away. At home, I didn’t feel like eating, so I threw myself on the bed. My mother called me for dinner, and I lazily called back:

- I’m too tired to eat. You two can go ahead and eat.

I then buried myself under the blanket, feeling resentful toward Hoa. Why didn’t she tell me in advance she was leaving? You were so thoughtless and selfish. If you had told me, I wouldn’t feel this sad. As I thought about it, I couldn’t help but cry, and I drifted into sleep without realizing it. The next morning, when I woke up, I found a letter beside me. I looked at the handwriting and immediately recognized it:

- Oh my god, it’s Hoa’s letter!

Each line she wrote helped me understand her decision to transfer schools and the reason she hadn’t told me. I no longer held any resentment toward Hoa. She would always be the person I cared about deeply.

A. MAIN KNOWLEDGE

1. Understand the elements of dialogue, monologue, and internal monologue in narrative texts.

1.1. Read the following excerpt: Someone asked: "- Why did you say the spirit of Chợ Dầu village was so strong?..." - "But now look at what has happened!" Mr. Hai paid for the water, stood up, clicked his tongue, gave a bitter laugh, stretched and said aloud: "Ha, it’s so hot, let’s go home…" The old man pretended to drift away and then walked straight ahead. The laughter of the newly arrived evacuees echoed as they continued to talk. He could clearly hear the sharp voice of a woman breastfeeding: "Damn their parents! Poor and starving, they steal, but people still pity them. Those traitors to the country should be punished!" Mr. Hai bowed his head and walked on. He briefly thought about the landlady. Upon returning home, Mr. Hai collapsed onto the bed. The children, noticing something was different about their father that day, quietly retreated to the front of the house to play. Looking at his children, Mr. Hai felt a pang of sadness and tears welled up in his eyes. Were they also children of traitorous villagers? Were they being despised and rejected by others too? What a shame, at their age... The old man clenched his fist and muttered through gritted teeth: "What do you children eat to turn into traitors, to bring shame upon us like this!" (Kim Lân, The Village)

1.2. Think about and answer the following questions:

a. In the first three sentences of the excerpt, who is speaking to whom? How many people are involved in the conversation? What clues indicate that this is a back-and-forth dialogue?

b. The sentence "- Ha, it’s so hot, let’s go home…" is spoken by Mr. Hai. Who is he speaking to? Is this a dialogue? Why or why not? Are there any other similar sentences in this excerpt?

c. The sentences: "Are they also children of the traitorous village? Are they being despised and rejected by others too? What a shame, at their age..." are Mr. Hai’s self-talk, or internal monologue. Why aren’t these sentences preceded by bullet points like the others in parts a and b?

d. How do these forms of expression contribute to the development of the story and the attitudes of the evacuees during Mr. Hai’s encounter with them that afternoon? How do they help the author effectively portray Mr. Hai’s psychological state?

Answer:

a. The first three sentences of the excerpt contain two bullet points, a colon, a question mark, and an exclamation mark, indicating a conversation, with at least two evacuees exchanging words.

b. The sentence "Ha, it’s so hot, let’s go home…" is a monologue spoken by Mr. Hai to himself. It is not a dialogue because the content of the sentence does not relate to the ongoing conversation. Mr. Hai says this to avoid engaging in the discussion among the evacuees. There is another similar monologue in the text: "What do you children eat to turn into traitors, to bring shame upon us like this!"

c. The sentences "Are they also children of the traitorous village? Are they being despised and rejected by others too? What a shame, at their age..." are internal monologue, self-reflection, by Mr. Hai.

d. Through the dialogues of the evacuees, the author conveys the depth of the situation and reveals their evaluation and concerns regarding the Chợ Dầu village incident. These dialogues help readers understand the inner feelings of the character: the deep hatred of those loyal to the resistance for the traitors, the love for their country, and the determination to fight. Mr. Hai’s monologues and internal monologues reflect the shock, pain, and shame he feels as a patriot who learns of his village’s betrayal. Mr. Hai’s character is vividly brought to life without the narrator needing to describe him in detail.

2. Remember

Dialogue, monologue, and internal monologue are important forms of expression to reveal characters in narrative texts. Dialogue refers to exchanges between two or more people. In narrative texts, dialogue is presented with bullet points before each exchange (each exchange has one bullet point). A monologue refers to a person speaking to themselves or to someone imagined. In narrative texts, when the monologue is spoken aloud, it is preceded by a bullet point; when it is unspoken, it is not preceded by a bullet point, and this is called internal monologue.

B. EXERCISES AND GUIDELINES

Practice

Question 1: Page 178, Grade 9 Literature, Volume 1

Analyze the effect of dialogue in the following excerpt:

Late into the night, Mrs. Hai finally sat up and stood. She silently went to the kitchen, lit the stove, and started counting the money from the sales. The same old bills for crab, noodles, beans, and candy… The same murmuring voice as usual.

- Hey, is he asleep?

Mr. Hai, lying on the bed, didn’t say anything.

- Is he asleep?

- What? The old man barely stirred.

- I heard people gossiping… Mr. Hai snapped:

- I know!

Mrs. Hai fell silent. The house was still, cold…

(Kim Lân, The Village)

Answer: The dialogue between Mr. Hai and Mrs. Hai in this excerpt is brief and intense. There are three exchanges, but only two responses. Mrs. Hai’s first question is unanswered by Mr. Hai. His only response to her second question is a muttered, "What?" The third reply is curt: "I know." This dialogue helps readers feel Mr. Hai’s sadness, pain, and disappointment upon hearing the news that his village has sided with the enemy.

Question 2: Page 178, Grade 9 Literature, Volume 1: Write a paragraph on a topic of your choice, using all three forms of dialogue, monologue, and internal monologue.

Example response: At the end of a farewell party, I felt a heavy sadness. Tomorrow, I would leave Hanoi for studying abroad, but my best friend Hằng didn’t come. As I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard Lan’s voice from behind:

- What are you thinking about? You look so down.

I turned and replied:

- Nothing, really.

- I know you’re sad because Hằng couldn’t come. But you should understand, her mom is sick and in the hospital. Hằng sent you a letter and a gift. I opened the letter and read it. Each word made me feel emotional. Did Hằng really remember all the moments we shared? Even though she was busy caring for her sick mom, she still thought of me. Was I wrong to blame her? A deep, unexplainable emotion surged in me, and I couldn’t hold it in. I said:

- Hằng, you will always be my best friend in life.