Plot obstacles

Definition

Plot obstacles are challenges, conflicts, or barriers that characters must confront and overcome throughout a story. These obstacles are crucial for driving the narrative forward and influencing character development, as they force characters to evolve, adapt, and make critical choices that impact the outcome of the plot.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Plot obstacles serve to create tension and suspense, keeping the audience engaged and invested in the story.
2. These obstacles can take many forms, including personal struggles, societal challenges, or physical barriers that must be navigated.
3. Overcoming plot obstacles often leads to significant character growth, as characters learn valuable lessons from their experiences.
4. Not all plot obstacles need to be resolved; some may lead to further complications or setbacks that enhance the narrative complexity.
5. The way a character responds to these obstacles can define their personality and contribute to their overall arc, making them more relatable to the audience.

Review Questions

• How do plot obstacles contribute to character development throughout a narrative?
  • Plot obstacles are essential for character development as they push characters to confront their fears, beliefs, and limitations. When faced with challenges, characters often undergo significant change, learning from their experiences and evolving over time. This process not only enhances their depth but also makes them more relatable to the audience, allowing viewers or readers to connect with their journey.
• In what ways can plot obstacles affect the pacing of a story?
  • Plot obstacles can significantly affect a story's pacing by creating moments of tension and conflict that propel the narrative forward. When characters encounter challenges, these moments can either escalate action or slow down the narrative for reflection and development. The interplay between overcoming obstacles and moments of respite is crucial for maintaining an engaging rhythm in storytelling.
• Evaluate how different types of plot obstacles can lead to various outcomes in a character's arc and overall narrative structure.
  • Different types of plot obstacles can lead to diverse outcomes in both a character's arc and the overall narrative. For instance, an internal conflict might prompt a character's introspection and eventual growth, while an external challenge could result in action-driven decisions that affect relationships with others. The nature of these obstacles shapes not only the resolution of the plot but also highlights themes such as resilience, sacrifice, or redemption, ultimately defining the story's emotional impact.

Related terms

Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces, which can be internal (within a character) or external (between characters or between a character and their environment), serving as a driving force in the plot.

Character Arc: The transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story, often influenced by the obstacles they face and how they respond to them.

Climax: The most intense point of the story, where the main conflict reaches its peak, often coinciding with the character's ultimate challenge or obstacle.