Instructions
:
(1) Read pages 103-155 of Le Guin’s
The Word for World is Forest
.
(2) While you read, think about how Le Guin writes dialogue. Are the conversations
believable, impactful, and/or compelling? Do the characters’ actions always correspond
to their words?
(3) Do some research and come up with working definitions of
indirect discourse
and
direct discourse
. What features stand out for these two forms of dialogue? Can you
think of examples of both forms of discourse in the novel?
(4) Read the following two excerpts of dialogue and write a short analysis (approx. 100
words) for each. Consider: Who is speaking – and to whom? What is each character’s
motivation for speaking? Does the dialogue help the plot develop or reveal information
about characters’ thoughts? Does the dialogue contradict the internal thoughts of these
characters? When you read between the lines, can you determine any subtle or
unspoken meaning?
“I am like them. A man. Like them. Like you.”
“No. You are different –”
“I am like them. And so are you. Listen, Selver. Don’t go on. You must not go on
killing other men. You must go back… to your own… to your roots.”
“When your people are gone, then the evil dream will stop”
“
Now
,” … (p. 134)
“We had already ‘promised’ not to hurt any of your people. It’s why the workers
were sent home. It did no good, you didn’t listen –”
“It was not a promise made to us.”
“How can we make any sort of agreement or treaty with a people who have no
government, no central authority?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure you know what a promise is. This one was soon broken”
(p. 140-141).