Communication Quote by Elizabeth Bowen
“Dialogue must appear realistic without being so. Actual realism-the lifting, as it were, of passages from a stenographer's take-down of a 'real life' conversation-would be disruptive. Of what? Of the illusion of the novel. In 'real life' everything is diluted; in the novel everything is condensed.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The House of Love, Elizabeth Bowen, 1950
The quote argues that realistic dialogue can break the novel's illusion, because true conversation is messy and diluted, while fiction condenses and sharpens reality.
In simple terms: Real dialogue can ruin a novel's crafted illusion.
Key Takeaway
Preserve narrative focus over strict realism.
Themes
fiction
realism
novel structure
dialogue
illusion
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- Writing fiction
- editing dialogue
- teaching creative writing
Key Concepts
Narrative condensation
authorial control
literary illusion
Questions to Reflect On
- How does dialogue shape a story’s truth?
- When is realism beneficial?
A Different Perspective
Real-life speech may distract readers from thematic depth.
