| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
When reported or imitated in writing, "dialogue" labels a form of literature invented by the Greeks for purposes of rhetorical entertainment and instruction, and scarcely modified since the days of its invention.
A literary dialogue comprises a little drama without a theatre, and with scarcely any change of scene. It can exhibit those qualities which La Fontaine applauded in the dialogue of Plato, namely vivacity, fidelity of tone, and accuracy in the opposition of opinions. It has long served writers who have something to censure or to impart, but who love to stand outside the pulpit, and to encourage others to pursue a train of thought which the author does not seem to do more than indicate. The dialogue expresses and notes down the undulations of human thought so spontaneously that it almost escapes analysis. All that any literature records of the alleged actual words spoken by living or imaginary people appears dialogic. One branch of letters, the drama, depends upon dialogue almost exclusively. But in its technical sense the word describes what the Greek philosophers invented, and what the noblest of them lifted to the extreme refinement of an art.
Literary historians commonly suppose that Plato (c. 427 BC - c. 347 BC) introduced the systematic use of dialogue as an independent literary form: they point to his earliest experiment in the genre in the Ladies. The Platonic dialogue, however, had its foundations in the mime, which the Sicilian poets, Sophron and Epicharmus had cultivated half a century earlier. The works of these writers, which Plato admired and imitated, have not survived, but scholars imagine them as little plays, usually with only two performers. The rediscovered Mimes of Herodas give us some idea of their scope.
Plato further simplified the form, and reduced it to pure argumentArgument may refer to: (in logic) a logical argument that is, an attempt to proved a demonstration of the truth of a conclusion based on the truth of a set of premises (in mathematics) at least three different things: a parameter or independent variable tative conversation, while leaving intact the amusing element of characterIn general, a character is a distinctive significant mark or feature. The word originates from the Greek word χαρακτηρ via the Latin word character an instrument for marking or graving. The word is used in several spe-drawing. He must have begun this about the year 405 BCCenturies: 6th century BC 5th century BC 4th century BC Decades: 450s BC 440s BC 430s BC 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC 390s BC 380s BC 370s BC 360s BC 350s BC Years: 410 BC 409 BC 408 BC 407 BC 406 BC 405 BC 404 BC 403 BC 402 BC 401 BC 400 BC Events Battle of A, and by 399Centuries: 5th century BC 4th century BC 3rd century BC Decades: 440s BC 430s BC 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC 390s BC 380s BC 370s BC 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC Years: 404 BC 403 BC 402 BC 401 BC 400 BC 399 BC 398 BC 397 BC 396 BC 395 BC 394 BC Events The Greek p he had brought the dialogue to its highest perfection, especially in the cycle directly inspired by the death of SocratesThis article is about the ancient Greek philosopher. For the Byzantine church historian, see Socrates Scholasticus for the Brazilian football player, see Socrates (football player . Socrates ( June 4, 470 399 BC) ( Greek &#x;Σωκ<. All his philosophical writings, except the ApologyThe Apology is Plato's version of the speech given by Socrates as he defends himself against the charges of corruption the young men of Athens and worshipping gods not approved by the state. Such a speech by the defendant was technically known as a 'apolo, use this form. As the greatest of all masters of Greek prose style, Plato lifted his favourite instrument, the dialogue, to its highest splendour, and to this day he remains by far its most distinguished proficient.
In the 2nd century A.D.1st century 2nd century 3rd century other centuries) Events Roman Empire governed by the Five Good Emperors' ( 96 180) Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius. Significant persons Cai Lun, Chinese inventor Galen, medical writer Saint Irena Lucian of Samosata achieved a brilliant success with his ironic dialogues Of the Gods, Of the Dead, Of Love and Of the Courtesans. In some of them he attacks superstition and philosophical error with the sharpness of his wit; in others he merely paints scenes of modern life.
Two French writers of eminence borrowed the title of Lucian’s most famous collection: both Fontenelle ( 1683) and Fénelon ( 1712) prepared Dialogues des morts ("Dialogures of the Dead"). In English non-dramatic literature the dialogue did not see extensive use until Berkeley employed it, in 1713, for his Platonic treatise, Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous . Landor’s Imaginary Conversations ( 1821 - 1828) formed the most famous English example of dialogue in the 19th century, although the dialogues of Sir Arthur Helps also claim attention.
In Germany, Wieland adopted this form for several important satirical works published between 1780 and 1799. In Spanish literature, the Dialogues of Valdés ( 1528) and those on Painting ( 1633) by Vincenzo Carducci are celebrated. Italian writers of collections of dialogues, on the model of Plato, include Torquato Tasso ( 1586), Galileo ( 1632), Galiani ( 1770), Leopardi ( 1825), and a host of others.
More recently, the French returned to the original application of dialogue, and the inventions of " Gyp ", of Henri Lavedan and of others, which tell a mundane anecdote wittily and maliciously in conversation, would probably present a close analogy to the lost mimes of the early Sicilian poets, if we could meet with them.
This kind of dialogue appeared in English, written with conspicuous cleverness by Mr Anstey Guthrie, but it does not seem so easily appreciated by English as by French readers.