Literary notes about Interlocutor (AI summary)
The term interlocutor in literature functions as a label for a conversational partner whose role can vary widely—from a silent respondent to an active debater. Authors deploy the word to highlight the intimate dynamics of exchange, as when a character deliberately avoids looking into the eyes of their interlocutor ([1]) or engages in subtle jibes and repartee ([2], [3]). In historical and philosophical narratives, the interlocutor may embody a counterpoint to established beliefs, offering a fresh perspective or challenging preconceptions, as seen when contrasting views on ancient cultures are articulated ([4]) or when complex social interactions are distilled into a brief, pointed exchange ([5]). Moreover, the term often evokes a sense of formality and reflection on social etiquette, indicating not just mere conversation but a carefully orchestrated dialogue that brings personal, cultural, and intellectual nuances to the forefront ([6], [7]). Thus, through its varied usage, interlocutor enriches the text by serving as a dynamic pivot around which narrative and argument often revolve.
- The first principle is to avoid looking directly into the pupils of one's interlocutor.
— from Poise: How to Attain It by D. Starke - his interlocutor said, uneasy and with a scowl.
— from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray - She punctuated her sentence with a mischievous look at her interlocutor.
— from The Story of a Mine by Bret Harte - The Pagan interlocutor goes on to make a distinction in favor of the Jews, who had once a temple, altars, victims, &c.]
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon - “It will be better to-day,” finally resumed their interlocutor, who seemed to listen to them with impatience.
— from Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo - The dignified Interlocutor took his place in the middle of the semicircle, and uttered the time-honored phrase: "Gentlemen, be seated.
— from A Book About the Theater by Brander Matthews - My illustrious interlocutor seemed to be completely of my opinion.
— from The Art of War by baron de Antoine Henri Jomini
