External goals

Definition

External goals are objectives that characters in a story pursue, typically involving their desires or needs that can be influenced by outside forces. These goals often drive the plot and create tension, as characters face challenges and obstacles that test their resolve in reaching these aspirations. External goals are crucial for establishing stakes and motivating action, contributing to both suspense and the overall narrative arc.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. External goals often manifest as tangible objectives, such as seeking revenge, finding love, or achieving success in a career.
2. The pursuit of external goals is usually accompanied by significant obstacles that create tension and suspense within the narrative.
3. Characters may have multiple external goals that can shift in priority, leading to dynamic developments in the story.
4. Achieving or failing to achieve external goals often serves as a catalyst for character growth or transformation.
5. Effective storytelling leverages external goals to engage audiences by heightening emotional stakes and fostering investment in character outcomes.

Review Questions

• How do external goals influence character development throughout a narrative?
  • External goals serve as a primary driving force for character development by providing clear objectives that characters strive to achieve. As they pursue these goals, characters encounter various challenges that test their determination and reveal their true nature. This journey often leads to significant growth, as characters learn from their experiences, adapt to changing circumstances, and evolve in response to the outcomes of their pursuits.
• In what ways can obstacles to external goals create suspense in a story?
  • Obstacles to external goals create suspense by introducing uncertainty about whether characters will succeed in achieving their desires. As characters face challenges, audiences become invested in the outcome, heightening emotional engagement with the story. The tension escalates as characters confront setbacks, forcing them to make difficult choices and adapt their strategies, which keeps viewers on the edge of their seats regarding the final resolution.
• Evaluate how a character's pursuit of external goals can impact the overall plot structure of a narrative.
  • A character's pursuit of external goals significantly shapes the overall plot structure by providing direction and momentum to the storyline. These goals serve as a focal point around which conflicts are built and resolutions are crafted. The unfolding of events is driven by the character's attempts to achieve these objectives, leading to various plot twists and turns that maintain interest and intrigue. Ultimately, the resolution of these external goals helps determine the narrative's conclusion, influencing themes and leaving a lasting impact on audiences.

Related terms

internal conflict: A struggle within a character's mind, often reflecting their personal dilemmas or emotional struggles that contrast with their external goals.

character motivation: The underlying reasons that drive a character to pursue their external goals, shaping their actions and decisions throughout the story.

plot progression: The advancement of the storyline that occurs as characters pursue their external goals, facing conflicts and resolutions along the way.