Goal

Definition

In screenwriting, a goal is the primary objective or aim that a character strives to achieve throughout the story. It serves as the driving force behind the character's actions and decisions, often creating conflict and tension as they encounter obstacles along the way. The clarity of a character's goal helps to shape the narrative and engage the audience.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. A clear goal helps establish a character's journey, making it easier for the audience to connect with their struggles and successes.
2. Goals can be external, like winning a competition, or internal, such as seeking self-acceptance, both playing crucial roles in character development.
3. The stakes associated with a character's goal can heighten tension, making the audience more invested in the outcome of their journey.
4. Character goals often evolve throughout the story, reflecting changes in perspective or new challenges that arise.
5. A well-defined goal can lead to more compelling loglines, as it succinctly summarizes the essence of a character's quest.

Review Questions

• How does a character's goal enhance their development throughout the story?
  • A character's goal is essential for their development because it provides direction and purpose to their journey. As they pursue this goal, they face various challenges that force them to confront their limitations and grow. This journey often leads to significant changes in their character arc, illustrating how their experiences and decisions shape them over time. Without a clear goal, a character may lack motivation and depth, making it harder for the audience to engage with their story.
• Discuss the relationship between a character's goal and the resulting conflict in a narrative.
  • A character's goal is intrinsically linked to conflict within a narrative because pursuing that goal often brings them into opposition with other characters or circumstances. This conflict can arise from external forces trying to thwart the character's ambitions or internal struggles related to their motivations. By placing obstacles in the path of achieving their goals, writers create tension and drama that keep audiences engaged. The interplay between goals and conflict is crucial in driving the plot forward and developing rich storytelling.
• Evaluate how the clarity of a goal impacts audience engagement and storytelling effectiveness.
  • The clarity of a character's goal significantly impacts audience engagement because it allows viewers to understand what is at stake for that character. When goals are well-defined, audiences can easily follow the narrative arc and invest emotionally in the character's journey. A clear goal also enhances storytelling effectiveness by establishing stakes and creating opportunities for conflict and resolution. In crafting loglines, an explicit representation of a goal can quickly convey the essence of the story, drawing in potential viewers by highlighting its core conflict.

Related terms

Motivation: The underlying reason or desire that propels a character towards their goal, explaining why they want to achieve it.

Conflict: The struggle between opposing forces that arises when a character pursues their goal, creating tension and drama in the story.

Character Arc: The transformation or growth a character undergoes as they pursue their goal, often leading to personal insight or change by the story's conclusion.