How do dialogue and actions reveal a character’s internal conflict?

• A. They show what the character struggles with privately, often reflected in choices, hesitation, or changes in behavior.
• B. They reveal only external plot events.
• C. They reveal the author’s bias.
• D. They are not related to conflict.

Answer: (A)

Dialogue and actions show what a character wrestles with inside. When a character speaks in hesitant or contradictory ways, makes decisions that don’t align with what they claim to want, or alters their behavior under pressure, readers glimpse the private struggles driving those moments. This showing—through speech, pauses, and behavior—lets us infer the inner conflict rather than being told directly, and it deepens our understanding of who the character is.

External plot events aren’t the focus of these elements; they can move the story forward without revealing inner turmoil. The author’s bias is not what dialogue and actions primarily reveal—that would show up in narration or tone. And these elements are indeed connected to conflict, specifically the internal kind that shapes choices and reactions.