External conflicts

Definition

External conflicts refer to the struggles that a character faces against outside forces, which can include other characters, society, nature, or technology. These conflicts are crucial for driving the plot forward and contribute significantly to a character's development as they navigate challenges and obstacles presented by their environment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. External conflicts can manifest in various forms, such as person vs. person, person vs. society, person vs. nature, or person vs. technology.
2. These conflicts often serve to reveal key traits of the protagonist, showcasing their strengths, weaknesses, and growth throughout the story.
3. Resolution of external conflicts can lead to significant turning points in a narrative, impacting not only the protagonist's journey but also the overall plot trajectory.
4. External conflicts can create tension and suspense, keeping audiences engaged and invested in the outcomes of the characters' struggles.
5. In many stories, external conflicts are intertwined with internal conflicts, as characters may struggle with their own beliefs or emotions while facing outside pressures.

Review Questions

• How do external conflicts shape a character's development throughout a narrative?
  • External conflicts play a vital role in shaping a character's development by presenting challenges that test their abilities and values. As characters confront these outside forces, they are forced to make decisions that reveal their true selves and lead to personal growth. The way they navigate these conflicts often determines their trajectory and transformation by the story's end.
• Discuss how external conflicts can create tension and engage the audience in a story.
  • External conflicts are essential for creating tension within a narrative as they introduce obstacles and stakes that characters must overcome. This struggle captures audience attention because viewers become emotionally invested in the outcomes of these conflicts. As characters face challenges from antagonists or societal pressures, the resulting tension keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, eager to see how situations will resolve.
• Evaluate the interplay between external conflicts and internal conflicts in character development.
  • The interplay between external and internal conflicts significantly enriches character development in narratives. External conflicts force characters to confront external pressures while simultaneously igniting internal dilemmas related to their beliefs, values, or identity. This dual struggle not only creates depth within characters but also illustrates how their responses to external challenges influence their internal growth and vice versa, leading to a more complex and engaging storyline.

Related terms

internal conflicts:

Internal conflicts are psychological struggles within a character, often involving emotional dilemmas or moral choices that challenge their beliefs or desires.

protagonist: The protagonist is the main character in a story who often faces external conflicts that drive the narrative and highlight their growth.

antagonist: The antagonist is a character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating external conflicts that propel the storyline and challenge the main character.