Introduction
Every storyteller knows that having a good plot is the backbone of any great story. But a great story isn’t complete without a gripping dilemma that keeps readers engaged and on the edge of their seats. A literary crisis is the perfect device to create suspense and tension, and to make the plot even more engaging. In this article, we’ll explore why a dilemma is essential in making a good story great and how to use it to create an unforgettable narrative.
What is a Literary Crisis?
A literary crisis is a difficult problem or conflict that a character must confront in order to progress the story. It’s the climax of the story and the moment when the stakes are highest for the protagonist and the outcome of the story is decided. Literary crises can be both external and internal, with characters facing internal struggles as well as external obstacles.
Why is a Literary Crisis Necessary?
A literary crisis is necessary in order to create tension and suspense in the story. It’s the moment when the reader is most invested in the characters and the story’s outcome. It’s also the moment when readers will ask themselves: “What will happen next?” A literary crisis is necessary to keep the reader engaged and to create an unforgettable story.
Types of Literary Crises
A literary crisis can take many forms, from a physical battle to an emotional struggle. Here are some of the most common types of literary crises:
- Man vs. Nature: This type of literary crisis focuses on a character struggling against the forces of nature, such as a hurricane, avalanche, or desert.
- Man vs. Man: This type of literary crisis focuses on a character struggling against another person or group of people. This can be an enemy, a rival, or an oppressive society.
- Man vs. Self: This type of literary crisis focuses on a character struggling with internal conflict, such as guilt, doubt, or fear.
- Man vs. Technology: This type of literary crisis focuses on a character struggling against a machine, an AI, or a piece of technology.
- Man vs. Society: This type of literary crisis focuses on a character struggling against society’s norms, laws, and expectations.
- Man vs. Supernatural: This type of literary crisis focuses on a character struggling against a supernatural being or force, such as a monster, a ghost, or a curse.
How to Create a Powerful Literary Crisis
Creating a powerful literary crisis requires careful planning and thought. Here are some tips on how to create a powerful literary crisis:
- Start by brainstorming the different types of literary crises. Decide which type of crisis will be most effective for your story and then brainstorm ideas for how to create that crisis.
- Create a compelling protagonist. A powerful literary crisis requires a compelling protagonist so that readers will care about their fate. Make sure your protagonist is someone readers can root for and empathize with.
- Create a believable antagonist. A powerful literary crisis requires a believable antagonist that readers can understand and relate to. Make sure your antagonist has a clear goal and believable motivations.
- Create a believable conflict. Your literary crisis should have a believable conflict that is personal and meaningful for the protagonist. Make sure the conflict is relevant to the story and is complex enough to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
- Create an unpredictable outcome. A powerful literary crisis should have an unpredictable outcome so that readers are kept guessing until the very end. Make sure the outcome is believable and satisfying.
Examples of Powerful Literary Crises
Here are some examples of powerful literary crises that have been used in popular books and films:
- The Hunger Games: In this story, the literary crisis revolves around the protagonist, Katniss, and her fight against the oppressive government of Panem. The conflict is complex and personal, and readers are kept guessing until the very end.
- Harry Potter: In this series, the literary crisis revolves around Harry and his fight against the dark wizard Voldemort. The conflict is personal and complex, and readers are kept guessing until the very end.
- The Lord of the Rings: In this story, the literary crisis revolves around Frodo and his fight against the dark lord Sauron. The conflict is personal and complex, and readers are kept guessing until the very end.
- Star Wars: In this series, the literary crisis revolves around Luke and his fight against the evil empire. The conflict is personal and complex, and readers are kept guessing until the very end.
The Benefits of a Literary Crisis
A powerful literary crisis can have huge benefits for your story. Here are some of the benefits of a literary crisis:
- A literary crisis can create tension and suspense in the story.
- A literary crisis can help readers to connect with the characters and the story.
- A literary crisis can make the story more engaging and interesting.
- A literary crisis can help to make the story more memorable and unique.
How to Use a Literary Crisis
Using a literary crisis effectively requires careful planning and thought. Here are some tips on how to use a literary crisis in your story:
- Create a believable conflict. Make sure the conflict is meaningful and relevant to the story.
- Create an unpredictable outcome. Make sure the outcome is unexpected and satisfying.
- Make the stakes high. Make sure the stakes are high enough to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
- Create a believable antagonist. Make sure the antagonist has believable motivations and a clear goal.
- Create a believable protagonist. Make sure the protagonist is someone readers can root for and empathize with.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a literary crisis is an essential device to create suspense and tension in a story. It’s the moment when the stakes are highest and the reader is most invested in the characters and the story’s outcome. It’s also the moment when readers will ask themselves: “What will happen next?” A literary crisis is necessary to keep the reader engaged and make the story unforgettable. It’s important to create a believable conflict, an unpredictable outcome, and believable characters in order to make the literary crisis as powerful as possible. With careful planning and thought, a literary crisis can be used to make a good story great. In the modern world of writing, it is clear that we are in the midst of a literary crisis. Authors find themselves faced with a seemingly insurmountable dilemma – what will make a good story great? It is a complex query, with no easy answer. It is not uncommon for a well-crafted plot to become bogged down by too-wordy sentences and a lack of depth.
To make a good story great, the author needs to dig deeper. A successful story needs tension, from inside or outside forces. Internal conflict could be a character’s own inner struggle or a foundational disagreement between two characters. External conflict could be a physical problem the character must tackle, or governmental opposition. Tension gives purpose to characters’ goals and creates dynamic action scenes.
In addition, great stories need structure. A good story arc follows a three-act model: in the first act, introduce characters and develop the conflict; in the second, create obstacles that prevent the goal from being achieved; in the third, provide resolution. Further, internal and external conflict should increase throughout the story, with the climax arriving in the third act.
However, more than anything, great stories need to have characters readers can relate to. Without the audience being able to feel an emotional attachment to the characters, the story often fails to be engaging. To make a good story great, readers must connect to the characters’ plight. Compassion, aspiration, and understanding will give readers an attachment to the characters, and make it easy for them to follow the story.
Finally, great stories require a certain amount of originality. A gripping story should leave an impression on the reader, a passage or a piece of dialogue that stands out among the rest. Perhaps it is a clever twist of the plot, or a new way of looking at a problem. Whatever it is, originality helps to make a good story great.
In conclusion, a literary crisis is indeed upon us. Crafting a story that will move readers takes time and effort. A great story requires tension, structure, engaging characters and originality. If authors heed these tips, they have prepped their story to be the best it can be.