Internal needs

Definition

Internal needs refer to the personal desires, fears, and motivations that drive a character's actions throughout a story. These needs often create emotional stakes that enhance the conflict and tension within the narrative, making the character's journey more relatable and engaging for the audience.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Internal needs are often revealed through a character's choices and reactions to external events, showcasing their emotional depth.
2. These needs can lead to dramatic tension when a character's desires conflict with their circumstances or moral dilemmas.
3. A strong understanding of a character's internal needs allows writers to create authentic dialogue and actions that resonate with the audience.
4. Characters with clear internal needs often experience significant growth or change by the end of the story, which can serve as a resolution to their arc.
5. Exploring a character's internal needs helps writers to establish relatable stakes, making it easier for audiences to connect emotionally with the characters.

Review Questions

• How do internal needs influence a character's actions in a narrative?
  • Internal needs significantly influence a character's actions by providing motivation behind their decisions. When a character faces challenges that relate to their internal desires or fears, their choices become more meaningful and impactful. This connection creates a deeper emotional resonance for the audience, as they witness how the character navigates conflicts that stem from these internal struggles.
• In what ways can a writer effectively reveal a character's internal needs through dialogue and action?
  • A writer can effectively reveal a character's internal needs by incorporating subtext in dialogue, where what is not said can be as revealing as what is spoken. Additionally, actions that contrast with stated beliefs or desires can highlight internal conflict. For instance, if a character claims to value honesty but consistently lies, this dissonance showcases their deeper internal need for acceptance or fear of rejection, allowing audiences to grasp the complexity of their motivations.
• Evaluate how understanding a character's internal needs can enhance the overall narrative structure and emotional impact of a story.
  • Understanding a character's internal needs is crucial for enhancing narrative structure because it aligns the character's journey with thematic elements and emotional arcs. This alignment creates a cohesive story where conflicts are not only external but also deeply rooted in personal struggles. As characters confront and evolve in response to their internal needs, audiences experience heightened emotional engagement, leading to a more powerful and memorable storytelling experience that resonates on multiple levels.

Related terms

character arc: The transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story, often driven by their internal needs and challenges.

conflict: The struggle between opposing forces, which can be internal (within a character) or external (between characters or forces), driving the plot forward.

motivation: The reasons behind a character's actions and decisions, often stemming from their internal needs and desires.