Prescriptive versus descriptive poetics of dialogue

Dialogue is mainly regarded as the basic form of drama. Soliloquies and non-dialogical epic communication structures are generally regarded as mere additives. This implies a conflict-orientated theory of drama, although it needs to be said that this description of drama applies to only one part of the historical corpus of dramatic texts. Modern drama doesn't have to be conflict-orientated.

This conflict-orientated theory elevates the actional dialogue, which is designed to change the situation, to the norm and condemns non-actional dialogue, where matters are discussed, regardless of whether they have any bearing to the action. The latter kind is often found in comedies.