Types of Conflict in Literature

Plot: a ReviewPlot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.

Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts

Ris

ing

Act

ion:

the

serie

s

of c

onfli

cts

and

cris

is in

the

stor

y th

at le

ad to

the

clim

ax

Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action

Falling Action: all

of the action which

follows the clim

ax

Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Plot Components

Plot: Conflict Conflict is the

dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

Review: Characters

Protagonist: the central character in the conflict

Antagonist: the force in conflict with the protagonist

Man vs. Man Conflict This type of conflict finds the main character in

conflict with another character, human or not human.

Man Vs. Nature Conflict

This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.

Man vs. Society Conflict This type of

conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.

Man vs. Self Conflict Also called

Internal Conflict In this type of

conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict.

What type of conflict is this an example of?

The thing is, I need to be at my dentist's appointment. If you don't let me turn left onto Cedar, I will be unable to make my appointment. Why are you going the exact same speed as me? I go 30, you go 30. I go 40, you go 40. I do an illegal U-turn, you do an illegal U-turn. Perhaps if we were all going to the same place, I'd just go with the flow. But I've been going with the flow, trying to get in the left-hand-turn flow, and no one is letting me do it. And you, ma'am, are obviously doing everything you can to prevent me from getting to my personal destination. Hear me when I say this: BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEEP

Answer:

Man vs. Man

What type of conflict is this an example of?

Hello, dog. You are going to move? Yes, yes, yes? No? I am human, you are canine. We are different, but know this: I will run you over if you don't get out of the street. Dog! Are you trying to bring me to a halt?! How often I forget that I can reconnect myself to the great web of life with just a simple message: BEEEEEEP, BEEEEEEEP.

Answer:

Man vs. Nature

What type of conflict is this an example of?

The road has three lanes. The SUV is using two of them at any given moment. This raises a question, first raised by Plato in The Republic: What is justice? Specifically, when given a scarce resource (the road), how do you distribute the scarce resource among the potential recipients (the drivers)? This particular SUV is suggesting a reprisal of Thrasymachus's definition of justice: whatever is done by the powerful is what is just. Following Plato, I voice my dissent, by pressing hard on my horn for seven seconds, followed by three quick BEEP, BEEP, BEEPs.

Answer:

Man vs. Society

What type of conflict is this an example of?

Sweet world, how much I have shared with you! I have withdrawn from you, wearied by my conflicts. I want peace. Will I be able to find it by withdrawing, thinking, eating, and driving? As I withdraw from the world, I find it difficult to breathe. One second I am savoring the taste of this BBQ chicken wing while driving, but now so very much of the chicken is stuck between my tonsils and the back part of my tongue. I can't breathe, I can't think clearly, all I can do is slump over as everything becomes very blurry. Thanks for hearing me out— BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP. BEEP. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

Answer:

Man vs. Self Internal Conflict

References All examples from “Models of Conflict in

Literature, Which I Think Justify my Beeping the Horn While Driving, Even if my Girlfriend Thinks Not”, by Justin Kahn

Pictures from Academy of Environmental Arts and Sciences Writing and Literature, “Types of Conflict”

Adapted from “Using Picture Books to Teach Plot Development and Conflict Resolution” by Lisa Storm Fink, Read Write Think

Your Assignment:

You are a news program producer. In your ENB, create an outline of an

imaginary news cast. There will be at least four stories. For each story, include a graphic and

a headline. You must have at least one example

of each of the four types of conflict.

Example:

Graphic Box

President Bush responds to personal attacks against his character

Headline/News Crawl

Character vs. Character Conflict