Anxiety

Definition

Anxiety is a psychological state characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure. It often arises in response to a perceived threat or uncertainty and can play a significant role in building tension within a narrative. Writers can use anxiety to create anticipation and suspense, engaging the audience as they relate to characters' internal struggles.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Anxiety can be portrayed through a character's internal monologue, physical reactions, or interactions with other characters, amplifying emotional engagement.
2. Effective use of anxiety in storytelling can heighten stakes, making audiences more invested in the outcome for characters facing perilous situations.
3. Anxiety serves as a catalyst for character development, pushing protagonists to confront their fears or make crucial decisions that drive the plot forward.
4. The timing and release of anxiety are vital; building tension gradually and then resolving it at key moments can create impactful storytelling experiences.
5. Anxiety is often used to reflect broader themes, such as the human condition, societal pressures, or personal dilemmas, making stories relatable and resonant.

Review Questions

• How can anxiety enhance the emotional engagement of an audience within a narrative?
  • Anxiety enhances emotional engagement by allowing audiences to connect with characters' inner turmoil and struggles. When characters experience anxiety, viewers often feel empathy and concern for their wellbeing. This emotional investment can keep audiences on the edge of their seats as they anticipate how characters will navigate their challenges, making the story more compelling.
• What role does anxiety play in character development and plot progression?
  • Anxiety plays a crucial role in character development by forcing protagonists to confront their fears and insecurities. This internal conflict not only drives their character arcs but also propels the plot forward as decisions made under anxiety can lead to significant turning points. As characters wrestle with their anxiety, they may evolve, allowing for deeper narratives that explore themes of growth and resilience.
• Evaluate how effective tension-building strategies involving anxiety can impact audience perception of stakes within a story.
  • Effective tension-building strategies that incorporate anxiety significantly shape audience perception of stakes. When writers skillfully build anxiety through suspenseful scenarios or looming threats, it raises the stakes for both characters and viewers alike. This heightened sense of urgency leads audiences to perceive potential outcomes as more critical, thereby enhancing their emotional investment and satisfaction when resolutions are reached, whether through success or failure.

Related terms

Suspense:

A state of mental uncertainty or excitement about what may happen next in a story, often heightened by elements of anxiety.

Conflict:

The struggle between opposing forces in a narrative, which can evoke anxiety in both characters and the audience.

Foreshadowing: A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story, often creating anxiety about future events.