Alice in Wonderland: A Play for A Novel?

[Ducklet Cat]

Hello,

Do you consider "Alice in Wonderland" a play or a novel?

Most people call it just a story, but it is long enough to qualify as a novel.
But what about the dialogues it has? The majority of the book is dialogues. Won't that qualify it as a play?

I know it was not intended to be performed, but I'm not talking about what author meant, I'm talking about what the text is.

What do you think? :)

[Barb_D]

It was originally a novel. It has been performed as play and made into several movies.

[Ducklet Cat]

Thanks Barb.

But what makes you (and everybody in deed :) ) call it a novel?
The majority of the text consists of dialogues not a narrative.

And from what I know, that a play is dominantly consisting of dialogues, while a novel is basically a narrative which might include some dispersed conversations or dialogues.

Thanks.

[5jj]

But what makes you (and indeed everybody ) call it a novel?

A novel is written to be read.
A play is written to be performed on stage.

'Alice' was written to be read.

[Ducklet Cat]

Thanks fivejedjon.
So it is about the intent of the author?
How do you know that "x" intended for his work to be read or performed, supposing that he or she did not say that?
Won't you just deduce that from the characteristics of the book?
If it is mostly dialogues, won't that make it a play rather than a novel?

Thanks.

[5jj]

It is quite possible for a novel to contain more dialogue than a play. Dialogue in a novel is a record of what the characters said; dialogue in a play is what the actors playing the characters are to say.

Have a look at a published play. You will soon see that it is set out very differently from a novel.

[Ducklet Cat]

Thanks fivejedjon.
Sorry for nagging too much about this. :)
If I read a book, how do I tell if it is a play or a novel, supposing that the author never said anything about that.

What is my measuring-rod that will make me say: Yes, this is definately a play or a novel.


Thanks.

[5jj]

If I read a book, how do I tell if it is a play or a novel, supposing that the author never said anything about that.

Well, apart from anything else that has been said in this thread, playwrights present their written works as plays. If you are reading something and nobody has suggested that it is a play, then it probably isn't a play.

And, I have to say, that is my final word on this. If you have other questions, you can post them, but I am moving to other threads.

[Ducklet Cat]

Thanks :)
Maybe someone else has another viewpoint.
I'm being a bit hypothetical. I'm trying to deduce what are the characteristics that make a text a play or a novel.

Any input is appreciated.

[Rover_KE]

Dialogue in a novel:

'I'm sorry to ring you at 6 am, Hilary', apologised Gaylord.

'No problem, honey - I had to get up anyway to answer the phone,' she retorted.

Dialogue in a play:

GAYLORD (apologetically): I'm sorry to ring you at 6 am, Hilary.

HILARY (waspishly): No problem, honey - I had to get up anyway to answer the phone.

Rover