Unresolved Conflict

Definition

Unresolved conflict refers to a situation in storytelling where a disagreement or struggle between characters or forces remains open-ended, creating tension and anticipation for the audience. This unresolved state is crucial in storytelling, as it often leads to dramatic moments such as cliffhangers and plot twists that keep viewers engaged and eager for more. By leaving conflicts unresolved, writers can effectively enhance emotional stakes and character development while propelling the narrative forward.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Unresolved conflict serves as a powerful tool to maintain suspense, encouraging viewers to speculate about potential outcomes and resolutions.
2. In many successful television pilots, unresolved conflicts are strategically placed at the end of episodes to create cliffhangers that ensure viewers return for the next installment.
3. Writers often use unresolved conflict to deepen character relationships, revealing motivations and emotional stakes as tensions rise.
4. The presence of unresolved conflict can elevate the stakes of a narrative, making resolutions more impactful when they finally occur.
5. Viewers are often more emotionally invested in stories with unresolved conflicts because these situations evoke feelings of curiosity and anticipation.

Review Questions

• How does unresolved conflict contribute to the suspense in a story?
  • Unresolved conflict plays a key role in building suspense by leaving questions unanswered and tensions high. When conflicts remain unresolved, they create a sense of anticipation for the audience, as viewers become eager to find out how these issues will be addressed. This technique keeps audiences engaged and emotionally invested in the characters and their journeys.
• Discuss how unresolved conflict can enhance character development in a television pilot.
  • Unresolved conflict often acts as a catalyst for character development in a television pilot. As characters navigate their struggles without clear resolutions, viewers gain insights into their motivations, weaknesses, and growth. This complexity can make characters more relatable and layered, leading audiences to form stronger emotional connections with them.
• Evaluate the impact of unresolved conflict on audience engagement and narrative pacing in a television series.
  • Unresolved conflict significantly impacts audience engagement by maintaining interest across episodes. When conflicts linger without resolution, it encourages viewers to tune in repeatedly to see how things unfold. Additionally, this pacing allows writers to carefully craft plot developments and character arcs over time, ensuring that resolutions feel earned and satisfying when they finally occur. The skillful use of unresolved conflicts also helps balance action and emotional depth within the narrative.

Related terms

Cliffhanger:

A narrative device that leaves a story at a tense or suspenseful point, creating a desire in the audience to know what happens next.

Plot Twist: An unexpected development in a story that changes the direction of the plot, often leading to new revelations about characters or conflicts.

Tension:

The mental or emotional strain created by unresolved conflicts, driving the narrative and keeping the audience invested in the outcome.