Conflict in Fiction

Conflict is an essential element in any work of fiction. Without conflict NOTHING HAPPENS!

Types of Conflict Internal

Man vs self

External Man vs man Man vs nature

There are many other types of conflict that stories can contain, but we are going to focus on these three.

Man vs Self When a character is at odds with himself

A character could struggle to tell the truth. A character could struggle to overcome a

fear. A character could struggle to master a

difficult skill. A character could struggle to move

beyond his past. A character could struggle to become a

better person.

Man vs Man

When a character is faced off against another character.

This can include relational conflicts such as: Parent-child Boss-employee Leader-outcast Boyfriend-girlfriend/husband-wife

Relational Conflict

Romeo and Juliet contains an example of relational conflict.

The main characters are in direct conflict with their parents Parent vs child

Man vs Nature When a character is competing

against the forces of nature. A ship caught in a terrible storm A person freezing to death in the Alaskan

forest. A man in the jungle attempting to avoid

being eaten by a tiger. The wedding that a couple has been

planning for months being cancelled because of a terrible rainstorm.

Directions

In the following examples you need to identify which of the three types of conflict is being used.

The quiz that follows will be out of order, so you must write down your answers.

The Gum CaperRobert Cormier1 So there I was in that small variety store in the upper common, standing in line with the juniorhigh school kids from B.F. Brown, waiting to pay for, of all things, bubble gum.2 I’ll say one thing about the kids—they didn’t regard me with either suspicion or hostility oramusement. They simply assumed that this bewildered-looking adult liked bubble gum and wasbeing very careful about picking out the right kind. But it so happens that I have not chewed gumin years and the reason I was buying some was . . .3 But let’s go back a bit.4 A minor accident a couple of days before had left the car crippled by a radiator with two leaks. Theproblem was getting the car to that garage out of town where it could receive the attention ofWally, the foreman.5 Wally is a terrific mechanic. More than that: he is a true craftsman, almost an artist at his work.He takes pride in the jobs he performs. He treats cars and motors with reverence.6 Anyway, I calledWally about the accident and about the radiator and asked him if he could send atow truck up this way to haul the car in.Wally said he would have to hire an outside tow truck.Then he added: “But you can drive it down here yourself.”

7 “But the radiator has two leaks and won’t hold the water,” I said.8 “What you do is this—get some chewing gum and seal up the leaks,”Wally said.9 Now, if I didn’t know thatWally was an expert, I’d have ignored the suggestion and said, “Justsend the tow truck.”10 I mean: chewing gum, for crying out loud.11 But I trustWally implicitly in matters mechanical, and although I was still doubtful, I went up tothe store and bought the gum. It took me a while to buy it because I was looking for volume—and Ifinally figured that bubble gum would do the trick.12 Back home, I asked a certain child, who has just turned seven, if she felt like chewing some gum.“Bubble gum,” I said.13 She greeted the question with surprise because ordinarily we don’t encourage her to chew gum. Infact, we discourage her.14 I said: “I’ve got a couple of packages here that have to be chewed right away.”15 Her eyes danced with delight, all disbelief suspended. “How come, Dad?” she asked.16 “Well, the radiator in the car leaks and I’m going to use the gum to plug up the holes.”17 “Oh,” she said, accepting the answer without question. She has complete faith in her father,despite the cut fingers and scratched hands my projects usually inflict upon me. She goes right onbelieving.18 So we sat there chewing awhile and it was fun, in a way.We blew a couple of bubbles because,after all, that’s what bubble gum is all about. And then we went out to challenge the car.

19 I lifted the hood, unscrewed the radiator cap (which took a few minutes: I finally had to pry it off)

and inserted the hose in the mouth of the radiator.20 The faucet was turned on and the water gushed into the radiator—and, sure enough, the

waterspurted from the leaks.21 I had hoped, really, that the radiator might have sealed itself or something, because,

frankly, Ididn’t think the gum would work. And I could envision myself on a back road somewhere with

aradiator suddenly turning into a fountain as the gum gave way.22 Despite the doubts, I took the chewing gum and jammed it against the leaks and the

spurtingstopped. I refilled the radiator and looked again. No leaks.23 Later, we went off to the garage and the trip passed without incident. In fact, it was

beautiful.Near Fort Devens, a plane flew low overhead and nine or ten parachutists tumbled out and

theyfloated in the air like blossoms falling from a tree. That was worth the trip alone.24 At the garage, I handedWally the keys and said, in triumph, “I made it.”

Tony Beaver . . . Axe-Swinger of Old VirginnyRetold by Tony Simon1 CR-AA-ACK!2 With one mighty stroke of his axe, Tony Beaver could lay low any tree in the forest. CR-AA-ACK!One blow and a giant tree would snap in two like a matchstick.3 If Tony Beaver happened to be in a hurry, down would come two trees at a time. He’d chop the firsttree—behind him—with his back swing. He’d chop the second tree with his forward swing.That’s the kind of lumberman big Tony Beaver was.4 Tony set up a lumber camp inWest Virginia. His men chopped down trees faster than you can say“TIM-M-MBER!”5 Come to think of it, Tony’s men never had a chance to shout “TIM-M-MBER!” A tree would crashto the ground before a lumberjack could drop his jaw to yell the warning. That’s why Tony’s menwore rubber helmets to protect their heads. That was a sight to see. Falling trees bouncing off thehelmets of Tony Beaver’s lumberjacks!6 Oxen were used to drag the timber to nearby rivers. Naturally, Tony Beaver couldn’t use just anyold oxen. His were “TREE-mendous” (as Tony used to say). Big? Why, do you know how long it tooka bird to fly across from one horn to the other horn on those oxen? Three hours! Yes, sir, Tony’soxen could pull anything right into the middle of next month.7 So, every middle of the next month, Tony’s lumberjacks were busy, dumping their loads of timberinto the rivers, and floating the logs downstream to the sawmills.8 The Tony Beaver lumber camp was near the Eel River. Don’t bother looking for it on a map ofWestVirginia. The Eel isn’t a river anymore. Here’s what happened to it:9 One day, after weeks of rain, the Eel began to rise rapidly above its banks. The town near Tony’scamp was in danger of being flooded.10 The townspeople were alarmed. They rushed to Tony Beaver.11 “Help us dam the river,” they said. “If we don’t work fast ALL ofWest Virginia will be underwater.”12 “Oh, no, it won’t,” Tony said calmly. “We’ll tame the Eel once and for all—right now!”

13 Tony told the people to shell everyWest Virginia peanut they could find. He ordered his men tobring him every barrel of molasses in the state. Soon the peanuts and molasses began to arrive.14 Tony straddled the rising Eel—one foot on the right bank, one foot on the left bank. He pulled upa giant hickory tree and began to stir the fast-flowing water.15 “Throw the peanuts into the river,” he shouted to the people. Then he turned to his men. “Pour inthe molasses—every last drop.”16 Soon the Eel River was filled with peanuts and molasses. The sun came out, baking hot. Themolasses, warmed by the sun, stuck to the peanuts. The river became thicker and stickier. ThenTony blew a cloud right across the sun.17 The river of molasses and peanuts quickly cooled. In a few minutes the molasses hardened. TheEel River stopped flowing. It was as solid as rock!18 Everyone cheered Tony Beaver.19 But Tony only smiled. He had still another surprise up his sleeve.20 “Thank you. Now we’ll all celebrate and have a party. Break off a chunk of the river and eat it.”21 That’s what the townspeople did. Then they cheered again. The river was delicious. It tasted justlike candy! And that’s exactly what it was. Tony had invented peanut brittle!

Assignment

Choose one of the types of conflict that we have discussed.

In five paragraphs, create a story that gives an example of the conflict.

Your conclusion paragraph should explicitly state what type of conflict you were using.