View
215
Download
1
Category
Tags:
Preview:
Citation preview
Why is CONFLICT important?
Without conflict, there is no plot! The plot is created around the
conflict… The conflict is introduced in rising
action… Is faced head-on during climax… Begins to work itself out during falling
action… Is resolved during resolution.
EXTERNAL CONFLICT An external conflict is between a
character and an outside force.
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Society
MAN vs. MAN
A character struggles with another character.
Protagonist vs. Antagonist The classic “good guy” vs. “bad guy”
situation A character will be opposed by or will
oppose the actions, reactions, motivations of another character or characters.
For example, in Hamlet, Hamlet is involved in a conflict with his uncle, King Claudius, who seeks to have Hamlet killed.
Example of Man Versus Man Conflict
Swami and Friends by R.K.Narayanan.
“Oh wretched idiots!,” the teacher said, clenching
his fists, “Why do you worship dirty, lifeless,
wooden idols and stone images? Can they talk? No.
Can they see? No. Can they take you to heaven? No.
What did your Gods do when Mohammed of Gazni
smashed them to pieces, trod upon them, and
constructed out of them steps for his lavatory?...
Example of Man Versus Man Conflict
Now see our Lord Jesus. He could cure the sick,
relieve the poor, and take us to Heaven. He was a
real God. …
Did our Jesus go about dancing with girls like your
Krishna? Did our Jesus go about stealing butter like
that arch-scoundrel Krishna? “
The teacher paused for breath. Swaminathan’s
blood boiled. He got up and asked, “If he did not,
why was he crucified?”
MAN vs. NATURE
A character struggles with a force of
nature (natural disaster, desolation,
animal, etc.)
Usually, the character is struggling to
survive.
The excerpt below is from Life of Pi by Yann Martel and a great part of the book is set in the middle of the sea.
The ship sank. It made a sound like a monstrous
metallic burp. Things bubbled at the surface and
then vanished. Everything was screaming: the
sea, the wind, my heart. From the lifeboat I saw
something in the water
Example of Man Versus Nature Conflict
I cried, "Richard Parker, is that you? It's so hard
to see. Oh, that this rain would stop! Richard
Parker? Richard Parker? Yes, it is you!"
I could see his head. He was struggling to stay at
the surface of the water.
"Jesus, Mary, Muhammad and Vishnu, how good
to see you, Richard Parker!
Don't give up, please. Come to the lifeboat. Do
you hear this whistle? TREEEEEE! TREEEEEE!
TREEEEEE!
MAN vs. SOCIETY In this conflict, a character or a group of
characters fight against the society in which they live.
The character fights against social traditions or rules (fight for freedom, rights, for a cause etc.)
Society becomes a “character” of its own Usually used to comment on positive or
negative aspects of real society.
The excerpt below is from To Kill a Mockingbird by
Harper Lee. It is the story set in a fictional town in
America at a time when racial discrimination was
at its height.
“Scout,” said Atticus, “nigger lover is just one of
those terms that don’t mean anything. It’s hard to
explain – ignorant, trashy people use it when they
think somebody is favouring Negroes over and
above themselves. ..”
“You aren’t really a nigger lover are you?”
“ I certainly am. I do my best to love
everybody. It’s never an insult to be called
what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just
shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t
hurt you. So don’t let Mrs. Dubose get you
down…”
MAN vs. SELF The character’s struggle takes place in
his/her own mind.
Usually has something to do with a
choice (choosing between right and
wrong), or it may have to do with
overcoming emotions or mixed feelings.
The below excerpt from Gora by Tagore is an
example of a momentary internal conflict.
“…as the cab drove away, the girl joined her
hands in a brief namaskar. Utterly unprepared
for this gesture, Binoy remained frozen, unable
to respond. Back home, he repeatedly cursed
himself for this minor lapse.
Scrutinizing his own conduct in their
company from their first encounter to the
moment of parting, he felt that his
manner had been rather uncivil. He
tormented himself with futile thoughts of
what he could have said or done at
specific moments.”
Recommended