The Dialogue of the Dogs facts for kids

Engraving of the two dogs

"The Dialogue of the Dogs" ("El coloquio de los perros") is a short story about two talking dogs. It comes from the imagination of a character named Alférez Campuzano, who appears in another story called The Deceitful Marriage. Both stories were written by the famous Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes. "The Dialogue of the Dogs" was first published in 1613 as part of a collection of short novels called Novelas ejemplares.

About the Author

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was born in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, on September 29, 1547. He was a soldier, a writer of novels, poems, and plays, and even a tax collector. Cervantes is known as one of the greatest Spanish writers. His most famous book is Don Quijote, the Man of la Mancha (Don Quijote de la Mancha). He wrote a series of twelve short novels, which include "The Deceitful Marriage" and "The Dialogue of the Dogs". Cervantes passed away in Madrid on April 22, 1616.

Exemplary Stories

Exemplary Stories (Novelas ejemplares) is a collection of twelve short novels. Miguel de Cervantes wrote them between 1590 and 1612, following a style popular in Italy. The book was printed in Madrid in 1613 and became very popular, especially after the first part of Don Quixote was released.

The Story

"The Dialogue of the Dogs" is connected to the story before it, "The Deceitful Marriage." That story is about a trickster who gets tricked by his clever wife. This experience lands him in a hospital in Valladolid. While recovering, he claims to have heard two dogs talking.

One dog, Berganza, tells the other, Cipión (also called Scipio), all about his life. He shares his experiences with different human owners. Berganza also talks about many big ideas, like fairness, honesty, and how people behave. Cipión promises to tell his own life story the next night. Cervantes leaves it up to the reader to decide if the dogs really talked or if the man in the hospital just imagined it.

What Happens?

In the story, Cervantes uses the dogs' conversations to share his own ideas about writing. He introduces the tale as "a story and dialogue that took place between Scipio and Berganza, who are commonly known as Mahudes's dogs and who belong to the Hospital of [the] Resurrection, which is in the city of Valladolid..."

Berganza's story begins with his birth in a slaughterhouse in Seville. He describes the hidden world of thieves and bad people. Cipión often adds comments and gives advice on how to tell a story well. He says, "Some stories are intrinsically appealing, others are made appealing in the way they are told."

The dogs' conversation ends by linking back to the first story, "The Deceitful Marriage." The characters Peralta and Ensign Campuzano become big fans of "The Dialogue of the Dogs."

Berganza's Adventures

Here's a summary of the many jobs and tasks Berganza had throughout his life:

• His first job was at a slaughterhouse in Seville. His owner, Nicholas Snub-Nose, taught him to chase bulls. Berganza, then called Barcino, also had to deliver food to a friend of his owner every day. He would secretly take what Nicholas had stolen during the night to a woman.
• Next, he worked as a shepherd. Berganza's job was to guard the sheep and watch out for wild animals like wolves. It was hard work, and he could only sleep now and then.
• Later, Berganza worked for a rich merchant. He was a guard dog by the door and was very good at it. But then he got a much easier job: playing with the merchant's children. They loved him so much that he lived like a king! However, he couldn't go to their school because he distracted the other students. So, Berganza went back to being a guard dog.
• After that, he worked for a dishonest police officer who actually helped criminals.
• A kind man took him in and taught him fun tricks. Berganza learned to do amazing things that made people laugh. His owner earned a lot of money by taking Berganza to different places to perform.
• Berganza then worked with Gypsies, doing similar tricks as before.
• In another job, he guarded a garden with a writer. This was an easy task.
• His last job was as a guard at a hospital in Valladolid, where he met Cipión.

Main Characters

Alférez Campuzano is a character from the story "The Deceitful Marriage." He tells his friend Peralta about an amazing conversation he heard while recovering at the Hospital of the Resurrection in Valladolid. He claims he was a witness to this dialogue.

Scipio and Berganza are the two dogs who can talk and think like humans. This special ability allows them to observe and comment on the world around them. They are important characters who keep the conversation going throughout the story. Berganza, suddenly able to speak, tells his life story to Scipio, who gives him advice on how to tell it.

Big Ideas in the Story

• Scipio helps Berganza by giving him tips on how to tell his story better.
• Berganza shows the bad parts and unfairness in society through his experiences.

How People See Dogs

Dogs are often seen as symbols of friendship and loyalty. When their owners pass away, many dogs feel sad, stop eating, and stay near their owners' graves. But Berganza's life story shows that what people expect about dog-owner relationships isn't always the full truth. Readers get to see what it's really like between owners and their dogs.

How it Influenced Others

Cervantes' short novels inspired several plays in England during the Jacobean era. Some plays based on his stories include Love's Pilgrimage and Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.

Even Sigmund Freud, a famous thinker, was interested in the story and felt a connection to Cipión.

See also

In Spanish: El coloquio de los perros para niños