Motivation

Definition

Motivation refers to the driving force behind an individual’s actions, desires, and needs. In screenwriting, it plays a crucial role in shaping characters, influencing their decisions, and propelling the narrative forward. A well-defined motivation helps create relatable and believable characters, enhancing audience engagement and emotional investment in the story.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Character motivations can be intrinsic (internal desires) or extrinsic (external rewards), and both types can significantly impact story dynamics.
2. Screenwriters often use clear motivation to define a character's goals, making it easier for audiences to understand their actions and choices.
3. Conflicts arising from character motivations are essential for creating tension and drama in a screenplay.
4. Motivation can evolve throughout a narrative, reflecting character development and responding to the challenges they face.
5. Understanding a character's motivation helps screenwriters construct more compelling plots that resonate with viewers emotionally.

Review Questions

• How does understanding a character's motivation enhance the development of their character arc?
  • Understanding a character's motivation is crucial because it provides insight into their goals and desires, shaping their journey throughout the story. A well-defined motivation allows writers to create a compelling character arc that shows growth or change as the character faces challenges. This journey often resonates with audiences as they witness how motivations drive decisions and lead to personal transformations.
• In what ways does motivation serve as a catalyst for conflict within a screenplay?
  • Motivation serves as a catalyst for conflict by creating opposing desires or needs between characters or between a character and their environment. When motivations clash, it leads to tension that drives the plot forward, creating obstacles that characters must navigate. This conflict not only keeps viewers engaged but also deepens their understanding of each character's personal stakes in the story.
• Evaluate how a character's backstory influences their motivations and impacts overall narrative structure.
  • A character's backstory provides essential context that shapes their motivations, informing why they pursue certain goals or react in specific ways to situations. By weaving backstory into the narrative, screenwriters can create multi-dimensional characters whose actions are rooted in their past experiences. This connection enriches the overall narrative structure by adding layers of complexity to character relationships and enhancing emotional stakes, ultimately leading to a more engaging story.

Related terms

Character Arc: The transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story, often influenced by their motivations.

Conflict: The struggle between opposing forces that drives the narrative, often stemming from a character's motivation.

Backstory: The history and background of a character that informs their motivations and actions within the story.