what is our hero doing

2 min read 26-12-2024

What is Our Hero Doing? A Deep Dive into Protagonist Actions and Their Impact

What is our hero doing? This seemingly simple question is at the heart of compelling storytelling. It's not just about the physical actions of the protagonist, but the motivations, choices, and consequences that shape their journey. Understanding what our hero is doing, on every level, is crucial for both crafting a captivating narrative and for understanding the deeper themes at play.

The Importance of Active Protagonists

A passive protagonist is a recipe for a boring story. Readers connect with characters who are doing something, actively pursuing their goals (even if those goals are initially unclear). The hero's actions drive the plot forward, creating conflict, escalating stakes, and revealing their character. What is our hero doing? They are striving, failing, learning, and adapting.

Examples of Active Protagonist Actions:

Physical Actions: Fighting a dragon, escaping a prison, solving a mystery, traversing a dangerous landscape. These are the concrete actions easily visible to the reader.
Internal Actions: Wrestling with doubt, confronting their past, making difficult decisions, overcoming personal flaws. These internal struggles are often just as crucial, if not more so, than the external actions.
Social Actions: Building alliances, confronting antagonists, inspiring others, betraying trust. These actions reflect the hero's relationships and their impact on the world.

Motivations: The Engine of Action

Understanding why our hero is doing what they're doing is just as vital. The motivations should be clear, relatable, and consistent (though they can evolve over time). A well-defined motivation gives the protagonist's actions purpose and meaning.

Examples of Protagonist Motivations:

Revenge: Seeking retribution for a past wrong.
Justice: Righting a wrong or upholding a moral code.
Love: Protecting someone they care about.
Self-Discovery: Uncovering their identity or purpose.
Survival: Staying alive in a dangerous situation.

Consequences and Growth

The actions of our hero don't exist in a vacuum. They have consequences, both intended and unintended. These consequences shape the narrative, pushing the hero forward or setting them back. The way the hero responds to these consequences reveals their resilience, adaptability, and ultimately, their growth.

Analyzing the Impact of Actions:

Successes: What does the hero achieve? How do these successes impact the story's trajectory?
Failures: What mistakes does the hero make? How do these failures affect their character arc?
Moral Dilemmas: What difficult choices does the hero face? What are the ethical implications of their decisions?

What is Our Hero Doing Right Now? The Power of the Present Tense

Focusing on the present tense when describing your hero's actions is a powerful technique. It immerses the reader in the immediacy of the narrative, creating a sense of urgency and suspense. Instead of saying "He went to the forest," try "He enters the shadowed forest, the air thick with the scent of damp earth."

Conclusion: The Hero's Journey as a Continuous Cycle of Action and Reaction

Ultimately, the answer to "What is our hero doing?" is a dynamic and ever-evolving narrative. It's a continuous cycle of action, reaction, consequence, and growth. By understanding the motivations, choices, and impacts of the hero's actions, we can create compelling stories that resonate with readers long after they've turned the final page. The hero's actions, however big or small, are what define their journey and shape the world around them. What is our hero doing? They are forging their legend, one action at a time.