Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Character motivations are the reasons why characters behave and act in certain ways within a story. They drive the actions and decisions made by characters throughout the narrative.
Conflict refers to the struggle between opposing forces in a story, which often arises from differing character motivations.
Internal vs External Motivation: Internal motivation comes from within a character's thoughts and desires, while external motivation comes from outside influences such as other characters or circumstances.