External events

Definition

External events refer to circumstances, occurrences, or situations outside the character's internal state that influence their actions, decisions, and overall development. These events shape the narrative and contribute to a character's journey by creating challenges or opportunities that drive their growth and transformation throughout the story.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. External events can include anything from personal crises, societal changes, natural disasters, to pivotal moments that alter a character's life.
2. These events often serve as catalysts for a character's development, pushing them to confront their fears, desires, or moral dilemmas.
3. Understanding external events is crucial for analyzing how characters evolve and how their decisions are shaped by the world around them.
4. Writers use external events strategically to create tension and conflict, which keeps the audience engaged in the character's journey.
5. Characters' reactions to external events reveal their traits and values, helping to deepen audience understanding and connection with them.

Review Questions

• How do external events influence character development in a narrative?
  • External events significantly impact character development by presenting challenges or opportunities that compel characters to react and adapt. These reactions can reveal inner strengths or weaknesses, leading to growth or regression. By facing external events, characters often confront their beliefs and motivations, making their journey relatable and dynamic.
• Analyze how a specific external event can shape a character's arc within a story.
  • A specific external event, such as a sudden loss or a major achievement, can dramatically alter a character's arc by forcing them to reevaluate their priorities and relationships. For instance, the death of a loved one might lead a character to withdraw from others initially but ultimately inspire them to seek new connections or purpose. This shift highlights the transformative power of external events in shaping who the character becomes.
• Evaluate the role of external events in enhancing narrative tension and audience engagement.
  • External events play a crucial role in enhancing narrative tension by introducing obstacles that characters must overcome, keeping the audience invested in their outcomes. As these events unfold, they create suspense and uncertainty about how characters will respond. This engagement deepens when audiences see characters evolve in response to these challenges, making them more relatable and compelling as they navigate their journeys.

Related terms

Conflict: A struggle or clash between opposing forces, often driving the plot and character development through challenges faced by the characters.

Backstory: The history or background of a character that informs their current motivations, behaviors, and reactions to external events.

Character Arc: The transformation or growth a character undergoes throughout the narrative, often as a result of their responses to external events.