Literary Conflict Literary Conflict

ConflictConflict In a story, conflict is the In a story, conflict is the struggle struggle between between

opposingopposing forces. forces.

ProtagonistProtagonist The The main main charactercharacter

AntagonistAntagonist The character in The character in conflictconflict with the main with the main

charactercharacter

ExternalExternalExternal Conflict takes place External Conflict takes place outside outside of the bodyof the body

External External

There are three types of There are three types of external conflictexternal conflict

Man vs. Man vs. ManMan

The struggle is between two or more The struggle is between two or more characters in the story.characters in the story.

ExternalExternal

Man vs. Man vs. NatureNatureThis type of conflict pits a story's main character This type of conflict pits a story's main character

or characters against a natural force such as a or characters against a natural force such as a flood, predatory animal, or disease epidemic. flood, predatory animal, or disease epidemic.

ExternalExternal

Man Against Man Against SocietySocietyIn many stories, the protagonist battles against In many stories, the protagonist battles against

element of government or culture.element of government or culture.

InternalInternal

Internal Conflict takes place Internal Conflict takes place insideinside of the of the body/mind.body/mind.

InternalInternal There is one type of internal conflict.There is one type of internal conflict.

Man vs. SelfMan vs. SelfThe struggle or opposition is within one character--making a tough The struggle or opposition is within one character--making a tough

decision, for example. A character struggling to overcome fear, decision, for example. A character struggling to overcome fear, addiction, emotional damage or other crippling personal issue. addiction, emotional damage or other crippling personal issue.

InternalInternalMan vs. Man vs. SelfSelf

Some literary conflicts take the form of a Some literary conflicts take the form of a character struggling to overcome fear, character struggling to overcome fear,

addiction, emotional damage or other crippling addiction, emotional damage or other crippling personal issue. personal issue.

PracticePractice

Decide what type of conflict is Decide what type of conflict is being illustrated in the being illustrated in the

following picturesfollowing pictures

1. Man vs. ?1. Man vs. ?

2. Man vs. ?2. Man vs. ?

3. Man vs. ?3. Man vs. ?

4. Man vs. 4. Man vs.

5. Man vs. ?5. Man vs. ?

6. Man vs. ?6. Man vs. ?

7. Man vs. ?7. Man vs. ?

PracticePractice

Now that you have mastered Now that you have mastered pictures, let’s try some text!pictures, let’s try some text!

8. Man vs. ?8. Man vs. ?

““If she had only proceeded more slowly.If she had only proceeded more slowly.If she had only taken the Southerly route, If she had only taken the Southerly route,

avoiding the icebergs. If only the watch avoiding the icebergs. If only the watch had had a pair of binoculars.”had had a pair of binoculars.”

(news story about the Titanic)(news story about the Titanic)

9. Man vs. ?9. Man vs. ?

Charles decided to break all the rules the Charles decided to break all the rules the day he decided to steal that car. He was day he decided to steal that car. He was immediately arrested and sent to jail to immediately arrested and sent to jail to await his trial. He should have known await his trial. He should have known better than to mess with the “rules.”better than to mess with the “rules.”

10. Man vs. ?10. Man vs. ?

““I don’t care who you talk I don’t care who you talk to!” screamed Sarah to to!” screamed Sarah to West. “I just wish I had West. “I just wish I had

never met you!”never met you!”

11. Man vs. ?11. Man vs. ?

After the light in the cave was After the light in the cave was completely gone Tom began to completely gone Tom began to

stumble through the cave blindly stumble through the cave blindly cutting his hands on what cutting his hands on what

appeared to be sharp rocks.appeared to be sharp rocks.

12. Man vs. ?12. Man vs. ?

Tom found a dry spot to sit down in Tom found a dry spot to sit down in the dark and began to feel guilty the dark and began to feel guilty

over an argument he had had over an argument he had had earlier in the day with his mother earlier in the day with his mother in which he had said, “I hope I in which he had said, “I hope I

never see you again!”never see you again!”

13. Man vs. ?13. Man vs. ?

Tom’s mother was upset that he wanted to Tom’s mother was upset that he wanted to skip going to college in order to go skip going to college in order to go

exploring in all of the world’s greatest exploring in all of the world’s greatest caves before he turned thirty. Tom didn’t caves before he turned thirty. Tom didn’t

understand what the big deal was and understand what the big deal was and wanted to run his own life. wanted to run his own life.