Characters’ Response to Resolution

Lets say two of your classmates are working on a project together, but they cant agree on how to do it. They have different ideas and they’re not seeing eye to eye. One way they could resolve this conflict is by finding a middle ground and combining both of their ideas. In this case, one of them might be pretty happy with how things turned out because they got to use some of their own ideas. But, on the flip side, the other classmate may feel unhappy because they feel like they had to give up too much of their own idea. They might even be mad at their partner for not being more open-minded. The differing reactions of each classmate give you an idea of their personalities and character. The first classmate is amenable and values the incorporation of other peoples ideas, while the second classmate is stubborn and inflexible. Its worth noting that how people react to conflict resolution can depend on their personality, past experiences, and how they’re feeling at that moment.

Response in Speech

• Expressing relief or joy: "Thank goodness that's over" or "I can finally breathe easy now."

  • This response can indicate that the character values peace and happiness, and that they are glad that the conflict has been resolved without further harm.

• Expressing gratitude or appreciation: "I couldn't have done it without you," "I'm so grateful for your help," "I'm glad we were able to come to a resolution."

  • This response can indicate that the character values cooperation and teamwork, and that they recognize and appreciate the efforts of others in resolving the conflict.

• Expressing regret or remorse: "I'm sorry for what I did," "I regret my actions," "I never should have let things get this far."

  • This response can indicate that the character values responsibility and accountability, and that they recognize their own role in the conflict and take responsibility for their actions.

• Expressing anger or frustration: "I can't believe they did that," "I'm so angry about what happened," "I can't believe this is how it ended."

  • This response can indicate that the character values fairness and justice, and that they are upset that the resolution of the conflict did not align with their expectations or desires.

• Expressing confusion or uncertainty: "I'm not sure what just happened," "I'm not sure how I feel about this," "I need some time to process everything." This response can indicate that the character values introspection and self-awareness, and that they are taking time to process and understand their feelings and reactions to the conflict resolution.

• Expressing satisfaction or accomplishment: "I did it!," "I'm proud of what we accomplished," "I'm glad it turned out well."

  • This response can indicate that the character values success and achievement, and that they are proud of what they have accomplished in resolving the conflict.

• Expressing defeat or disappointment: "I lost," "I'm not happy with the outcome," "I didn't expect it to end this way."

  • This response can indicate that the character values winning and being right, and that they are disappointed that the resolution of the conflict did not align with their expectations or desires.

Response Through Action/Choices

• A character who celebrates or rejoices in the resolution of a conflict may reveal that they value peace and happiness.

• They could be laughing, smiling, dancing, and generally showing signs of relief and joy.

• A character who is vindictive or retaliatory in response to the resolution of a conflict may reveal that they value revenge or justice.

• They could be taking actions to harm the other party, or plotting to seek revenge in the future.

• A character who is remorseful or apologetic in response to the resolution of a conflict may reveal that they value responsibility and accountability.

Characters Changing

• Developments and changes in characters can greatly affect the reader's interpretation of the character, conflict, and plot.

• Some ways characters can show development are through their words, interactions with other characters, and their thoughts.

Primary versus Minor Characters

• Minor characters are often not the main focus of the story, so they don’t really change or develop.

• They’re mostly there to move the plot along or to have some sort of interaction with the main characters.

• They’re like the supporting actors in a movie they play an important role but theyre not the star.

• For example, a minor character might be introduced as a sidekick or a mentor to the main character.

• They might give some advice or help out, but once their job is done, they disappear from the story.

Significant Events

• Significant events usually relate to the text’s main conflict, and serve as vivid examples of the conflicting ideologies and beliefs that are present within the story.

• These events can illuminate the internal struggles and tensions that drive the narrative, as characters are forced to confront and reconcile their differing values

Suspense

• Suspense in narratives is the feeling of uncertainty or tension that a reader or viewer experiences as they follow a story.

• It is created by a combination of different elements such as plot, characterization, setting, and tone.

• One of the key ways to build suspense is through the use of significant events, arranged in a particular order.

Arrangement of Events

• Firstly, the order in which events are presented can create a sense of progression and build-up. For example, a story that starts with a small problem and gradually escalates to a larger conflict will create a sense of tension as the stakes become higher.

• Secondly, the use of cliffhangers, a technique where a story ends on a suspenseful or dramatic note, can greatly contribute to anticipation.

• Thirdly, the use of red herrings, false clues or misleading information, can also contribute to anticipation.

  • This technique is often used in mystery or crime fiction where the reader is led to believe one thing but is later revealed to be something else.

• Finally, the use of foreshadowing, as previously mentioned, can also contribute to anticipation by giving the reader or viewer an idea of what might happen in the future.

Conflict

• Conflict in literature is created when there is a problem or struggle that the protagonist must face.

• This can be caused by external forces such as other characters, society, or nature, or it can be internal conflicts within the character themselves.

Resolution

• The resolution of a story is the part of the plot that comes after the climax, in which the conflicts and tensions of the story are resolved.

• Its where the protagonists goal is achieved or not, and the story’s conflicts are brought to an end.

• The resolution ties up any loose ends, and leaves the audience with a sense of closure.

Lack of Resolution

• When a work of literature lacks resolution, it can have a significant impact on how the reader interprets and understands the story.

• Without a clear resolution, the reader may be left feeling confused or uncertain about the meaning of the story or the fate of the characters.

• This can be intentional on the part of the author, as it allows the reader to interpret the story in their own way and come to their own conclusions.

Narrator Changes & Inconsistencies

• The narrator or speaker can change as the story progresses as a result of actions and interactions that take place within the story.

• For example, in a first-person narrative, the narrator may be a character in the story.

• As the story progresses, the narrators interactions with other characters may change their perspective, influencing the way they tell the story.

• In a third-person narrative, the narrator may be an omniscient observer, but their perspective can still change as the story progresses.

Effect of Narrative Inconsistencies

Intentional narrative inconsistencies in a text can have a variety of effects on the reader. Some of these include:

• Creating tension and uncertainty: Inconsistencies in a text can create a sense of confusion and uncertainty for the reader, which can be used to build tension and suspense.

• Adding depth to the story: Inconsistencies can also be used to add depth and complexity to a story by introducing multiple perspectives, or by showing different versions of events.

• Creating a sense of realism: Inconsistencies in a text can also create a sense of realism by mimicking the way that people perceive and remember events in real life.

• Enhancing the theme: Inconsistencies in a text can also be used to enhance the themes of the story by showing the different ways in which people can perceive and interpret events.

• Reflecting the narrator's bias: Intentional narrative inconsistencies can also reflect the narrator's bias, emotions and subjectivity; showing how their perspective might affect the way they tell the story.

• Creating a sense of empathy: As the narrator develops, the reader may also develop a sense of empathy with them, which can affect the way they interpret the events and the characters in the story.

Multiple/Contrasting Perspectives

• A single text can contain various, and even conflicting, perspectives.

• This technique is often used by authors to add complexity and depth to their stories by presenting different characters viewpoints or by using different narrators.

• For example, a novel could have multiple narrators telling the story from their own perspectives, or it could have one narrator who shifts between different characters perspectives.

Effect of Multiple Perspectives

• Using multiple perspectives in a work can have a significant impact on the reader's interpretation of the story.

• Some of the effects are similar to the effects of narrative inconsistencies.

• They include:

  • Adding complexity and depth to the story by providing different viewpoints and insights into the characters and events.

  • Challenging the reader's understanding of the story by presenting multiple versions of the same event or character, forcing the reader to question their own perceptions and biases.

  • Creating empathy for the characters by allowing the reader to understand their thoughts and feelings, which can make the characters more relatable and human.

  • Creating a sense of subjectivity and relativism, by showing that the truth is not absolute, but rather depends on the perspective of the observer.

  • Creating a sense of mystery and uncertainty, by giving the reader only partial information and leaving them to piece together the story and make their own interpretations.