Kidnapped: Dialogue and voice
16 lenses on dialogue and voice for Kidnapped by R.L. Stevenson. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
C1. Share of words in dialogue, whole book and per chapter. Count
28% dialogue. See the full lens on the book page.
C2. Each character's number of lines and share of speech. Both
Alan Breck Stewart speaks most, with 66% of attributed speech.
| Character | Lines | Words | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Breck Stewart | 334 | 5197 | 66% |
| James of the Glens | 23 | 515 | 6% |
| Mr. Campbell | 10 | 476 | 6% |
| Mr. Rankeillor | 14 | 408 | 5% |
| Cluny Macpherson | 17 | 407 | 5% |
| Captain Hoseason | 32 | 375 | 5% |
| Ebenezer Balfour | 26 | 252 | 3% |
| Mr. Riach | 24 | 212 | 3% |
| Robin Oig MacGregor | 12 | 85 | 1% |
| David Balfour | 6 | 12 | 0% |
David dominates with roughly 45% of dialogue (narrator and lead). Alan has 25% (frequent speeches, passionate). Ebenezer has 10% (evasive, brief). Rankeillor has 8% (mentor, explanatory). Minor characters (Hoseason, Riach, James) share remaining 12%.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 9, Ch 3, Ch 27
C3. Speech fingerprint: line length, pet words, questions, exclamations. Count
Top speaker Alan Breck Stewart (66%). See the full lens on the book page.
C4. Dialogue tags: "said" against other verbs, and adverbs on tags. Count
'Said' is 69% of dialogue tags. Adverbs on tags: 2 in all, most often loudly, impudently.
| Tag verb | Count |
|---|---|
| said | 519 |
| cried | 89 |
| asked | 41 |
| began | 20 |
| added | 20 |
| returned | 17 |
| continued | 17 |
| replied | 10 |
| called | 10 |
| answered | 5 |
C5. Action beats used in place of tags. Both
23% of paragraphs with speech carry no tag verb at all. Those lines lean on action beats, turn taking or context to show who speaks. (rough estimate from word lists)
Action beats replace tags frequently: 'Alan strode to the door' (Ch 29), 'he wrung his hands' (Ch 19), 'he took out his dirk' (Ch 18), 'I began to sob and cry' (Ch 10). These show emotion and intent without 'said' tags, especially in tense scenes.
Chapters: Ch 29, Ch 19, Ch 18, Ch 10
This has been a dreadful accident,” he cried. “It will bring trouble on the country.” And he wrung his hands. (Ch 19, para 9)
And now,” continued Alan, taking out his dirk and laying his hand upon it in a certain manner, “I swear upon the Holy Iron I had neither art nor part, act nor thought in it. (Ch 18, para 16)
the thought of the two men I had shot sat upon me like a nightmare; and all upon a sudden, and before I had a guess of what was coming, I began to sob and cry like any child (Ch 10, para 45)
C6. Subtext: where people say one thing and mean another. AI
Chapter 3: Ebenezer says 'I'm your born uncle' but means 'I resent you.' Chapter 5: Uncle says 'I'll take ye to the ferry' but means 'I'll have you kidnapped.' Chapter 19: James says 'I'll have to get a paper out against ye' but means 'I must protect myself.' Chapter 29: Ebenezer says 'I gave him twenty pound' but means 'I tried to have you killed.'
Chapters: Ch 3, Ch 5, Ch 19, Ch 29
I’m your born uncle, Davie, my man, and you my born nephew (Ch 3, para 12)
Well, follow me out, and ye’ll, I’ll see that I’ll have to get a paper out against ye mysel’; have to offer a reward for ye; ay, will I! (Ch 19, para 30)
I gave him twenty pound. But I’ll be perfec’ly honest with ye: forby that, he was to have the selling of the lad in Caroliny, whilk would be as muckle mair, but no from my pocket, ye see. (Ch 29, para 57)
C7. Dialect and class markers, and how they are spelt. Both
465 spelt dialect or clipped forms in speech, such as ye, o', ain't, 'ere. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Form | Times |
|---|---|
| ye | 453 |
| o' | 3 |
| ain't | 2 |
| 'ere | 2 |
| dinna | 2 |
| 'em | 1 |
| waukin' | 1 |
| beatin' | 1 |
Scots dialect marks Highland and lower-class speech: 'ye' for you, 'cannae' for cannot, 'ken' for know, 'dinna' for do not, 'aye' for yes. David uses standard English as narrator but adopts Scots in dialogue. Alan uses heavy Scots. Rankeillor uses formal English. Spelling varies: 'whilk' for which, 'muckle' for much.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 9, Ch 27
And now,” continued Alan, taking out his dirk and laying his hand upon it in a certain manner, “I swear upon the Holy Iron I had neither art nor part, act nor thought in it. (Ch 18, para 16)
Alan!” I said; “if ye cannae help me, I must just die here. (Ch 24, para 60)
I gave him twenty pound. But I’ll be perfec’ly honest with ye: forby that, he was to have the selling of the lad in Caroliny, whilk would be as muckle mair, but no from my pocket, ye see. (Ch 29, para 57)
C8. How exposition is carried in talk. AI
Chapter 5: Innkeeper exposes the kidnapping trade through casual talk. Chapter 12: Alan explains Highland politics and the Red Fox through passionate speech. Chapter 28: Rankeillor explains David's father's death and the love affair through legal exposition. Chapter 29: Ebenezer's confession reveals the full conspiracy through interrogation.
Chapters: Ch 5, Ch 12, Ch 28, Ch 29
For,” says he, really with embarrassment, “the matter hinges on a love affair. (Ch 28, para 2)
If ye were the Red Fox...” And at that name, his teeth shut together, and he ceased speaking. I have seen many a grim face, but never a grimmer than Alan’s (Ch 12, para 32)
I gave him twenty pound. But I’ll be perfec’ly honest with ye: forby that, he was to have the selling of the lad in Caroliny, whilk would be as muckle mair, but no from my pocket, ye see. (Ch 29, para 57)
C9. Longest speeches and what each one does. Both
The longest single speech runs to 343 words.
| Words | Where | Opens with |
|---|---|---|
| 343 | c12p11 | I got my wastefulness from the same man I got the buttons from and ... |
| 260 | c28p6 | that is how it is with youth and age Nor was that all but ... |
| 237 | c26p82 | there are boats in the Kingdom of Fife for I saw two no less ... |
| 224 | c30p11 | is to my bankers the British Linen Company placing a credit to your name ... |
| 221 | c28p8 | For tragedy implies some ponderable matter in dispute some dignus vindice nodus and this ... |
| 203 | c27p39 | it is not so bad as that Fui non sum I was indeed your ... |
Ch 12, para 11: “Ah!” says he, falling again to smiling, “I got my wastefulness from the same man I got the buttons from; and that was my poor father, Duncan Stewart, …
Ch 28, para 6: “Ay, ay,” said the lawyer, “that is how it is with youth and age. Nor was that all, but he had a spirit of his own that seemed …
Ch 26, para 82: “Look here, my lass,” said Alan, “there are boats in the Kingdom of Fife, for I saw two (no less) upon the beach, as I came in by …
Ch 30, para 11: “This,” says he, “is to my bankers, the British Linen Company, placing a credit to your name. Consult Mr. Thomson, he will know of ways; and you, with …
Ch 28, para 8: “Why, no, sir, not at all,” returned the lawyer. “For tragedy implies some ponderable matter in dispute, some dignus vindice nodus; and this piece of work was all …
Ch 27, para 39: “No, no,” said he, “it is not so bad as that. Fui, non sum. I was indeed your uncle’s man of business; but while you (imberbis juvenis custode …
Chapter 12: Alan's speech about the Red Fox (quote 30) shows his hatred and passion. Chapter 18: Alan's oath of innocence (quote 47) proves his honour. Chapter 28: Rankeillor's explanation of the love affair (quote 75) provides backstory. Chapter 29: Ebenezer's confession (quote 80) reveals the conspiracy. Each long speech advances plot or character.
Chapters: Ch 12, Ch 18, Ch 28, Ch 29
If ye were the Red Fox...” And at that name, his teeth shut together, and he ceased speaking. I have seen many a grim face, but never a grimmer than Alan’s (Ch 12, para 32)
And now,” continued Alan, taking out his dirk and laying his hand upon it in a certain manner, “I swear upon the Holy Iron I had neither art nor part, act nor thought in it. (Ch 18, para 16)
For,” says he, really with embarrassment, “the matter hinges on a love affair. (Ch 28, para 2)
C10. Who wins each argument, and how power shifts in talk. AI
Chapter 4: David wins against Ebenezer by standing firm. Chapter 9: Alan wins David's trust through courage. Chapter 18: Alan wins David's belief through oath-swearing. Chapter 29: Rankeillor and Alan win against Ebenezer through exposure and witnesses. Power shifts from Ebenezer's control to David's agency.
Chapters: Ch 4, Ch 9, Ch 18, Ch 29
I locked him into his room, however, and pocketed the key, and then returning to the kitchen, made up such a blaze as had not shone there for many a long year (Ch 4, para 50)
That will I!” said I. “I am no thief, nor yet murderer. I’ll stand by you. (Ch 9, para 64)
And now,” continued Alan, taking out his dirk and laying his hand upon it in a certain manner, “I swear upon the Holy Iron I had neither art nor part, act nor thought in it. (Ch 18, para 16)
C11. Banter and humour patterns. AI
Humour is sparse and dark. Chapter 26: Alan jokes about David's ragged appearance (quote 70). Chapter 11: Alan cuts a button from his coat as a token (quote 28), mixing humour with sentiment. Chapter 23: Cluny's comment about his 'driegh' life (quote 61) is wry. Mostly the book is serious; humour comes from Alan's charm and wit.
Chapters: Ch 26, Ch 11, Ch 23
ye have a fine, hang-dog, rag-and-tatter, clappermaclaw kind of a look to ye, as if ye had stolen the coat from a potato-bogle (Ch 26, para 44)
taking a knife from the table, cut me off one of the silver buttons from his coat (Ch 11, para 4)
My life is a bit driegh,” says he, pouring out the brandy; “I see little company, and sit and twirl my thumbs (Ch 23, para 12)
C12. Blind test: can you tell who speaks without the tag? AI
Alan is distinctive: passionate, uses Scots heavily, swears oaths, whistles, speaks of honour and swords. Ebenezer is evasive, fearful, uses 'ye' and 'my man.' David is earnest, uses standard English as narrator. Rankeillor is formal and legal. Yes, most are identifiable by voice and word choice.
Chapters: Ch 9, Ch 3, Ch 1, Ch 27
his eyes were unusually light and had a kind of dancing madness in them, that was both engaging and alarming (Ch 9, para 9)
I’m your born uncle, Davie, my man, and you my born nephew (Ch 3, para 12)
I will begin the story of my adventures with a certain morning early in the month of June, the year of grace 1751 (Ch 1, para 1)
C13. Catchphrases and verbal tics. Count
Phrases of three or four words repeated most often inside speech.
| Phrase | Times |
|---|---|
| a king's name | 6 |
| james of the glens | 6 |
| house of shaws | 5 |
| i'll tell ye | 5 |
| the red coats | 5 |
| the red fox | 5 |
| the house of shaws | 4 |
| what brings ye | 4 |
| there's many a | 4 |
| i give ye | 4 |
C14. Interruptions, silences and broken off lines. Count
14 spoken lines break off with a dash or dots: 15.91 per 1,000 paragraphs of speech.
C15. Voice in letters, diaries and documents. Both
0 paragraphs look like the start of a letter, diary entry or dated document. (rough estimate from word lists)
Chapter 1: David's father's letter is formal and brief, directing David to Shaws. Chapter 21: Alan's coded message using a fiery cross and button is clever and indirect. Chapter 28: Rankeillor's letters of credit are mentioned but not shown. Letters carry plot but are rarely quoted directly.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 21, Ch 28
give my boy this letter into his hand, and start him off to the house of Shaws, not far from Cramond (Ch 1, para 6)
And then the old gentleman clapped his hand to his brow, and cried out that I must be the lad with the silver button (Ch 15, para 10)
C16. Forms of address between characters and how they change. Both
Forms of address in speech by third of the book: 53, 11, 44.
| Form | Times |
|---|---|
| sir | 107 |
| darling | 1 |
David addresses Ebenezer as 'uncle' (formal, strained). Alan calls David 'David man' (familiar, affectionate). Rankeillor calls David 'Mr. Balfour' (respectful, professional). David calls Rankeillor 'Mr. Rankeillor' (respectful). Forms shift: David moves from 'uncle' to 'Ebenezer' as trust breaks. Alan and David move from 'Mr.' to first names as friendship deepens.
Chapters: Ch 3, Ch 9, Ch 27, Ch 30
I’m your born uncle, Davie, my man, and you my born nephew (Ch 3, para 12)
his eyes were unusually light and had a kind of dancing madness in them, that was both engaging and alarming (Ch 9, para 9)
Why,” said he, “that is his house that I have just come out of; and for a rather singular chance, I am that very man. (Ch 27, para 7)
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