Runt Talk the Talk Book Response Task is a language-focused activity that explores character dialogue in Craig Silvey’s novel Runt. This engaging task invites students to examine how characters speak, what their language choices reveal about their personalities and relationships, and how dialogue helps shape tone and character development throughout the story.

Students begin by locating and analysing examples of character dialogue, considering what is said, how it is said, and what it reveals about the character dynamics. They then complete two focused comparisons: Annie Shearer vs Fergus Fink and Bryan Shearer vs Robert Earl-Barren. Through these comparisons, students build their understanding of character contrast, tone and author craft.

The activity also includes a creative extension in which students rewrite a section of dialogue as if it were spoken by a different character. This challenges them to adopt another character’s voice and perspective, building empathy and writing flexibility. A peer discussion question encourages collaborative reflection on dialogue choices and their effects.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Identify and analyse examples of dialogue from the novel
• ✅ Explore how language reveals character traits and relationships
• ✅ Compare tone, voice and speech patterns across characters
• ✅ Practise rewriting dialogue in another character’s voice
• ✅ Engage in critical discussion through a peer-based extension question

What’s Included:

• Book response worksheet focused on analysing dialogue
• Character comparison prompts and structured analysis tasks
• Creative dialogue rewrite activity
• Peer discussion extension question

Materials Needed:

• Printed worksheet
• Novel Runt for locating dialogue
• Pencils or pens
• Optional: highlighters for marking key dialogue features

How to Use:

1. Begin with a discussion about how dialogue can show personality, mood and relationships.
2. Have students find and record examples of dialogue in the novel.
3. Guide them through the comparison tasks, encouraging justification using text evidence.
4. Support students as they rewrite a piece of dialogue from a new character’s perspective.
5. Finish with the extension question for paired or group discussion.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during a novel study to focus on characterisation through dialogue
• 💡 Pair with a lesson on voice and tone in writing
• 💡 Set up as a guided reading response for small group work
• 💡 Combine with drama or roleplay by having students act out the rewritten scenes

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Provide dialogue sentence starters to support developing writers
• 💛 Encourage students to annotate tone or emotion alongside their examples
• 💛 Use a graphic organiser for comparing character voices side-by-side
• 💛 Reinforce the idea of "show, don't tell" through how characters speak and respond

Runt Talk the Talk Book Response Task supports students in developing a deeper understanding of characterisation, voice and tone by analysing and experimenting with dialogue. This task blends literary analysis with creative expression and peer discussion for a well-rounded response to the novel.

This task is featured in the Runt Novel Study PACKAGE.