Download TYPES OF CONFLICT

Conflict in
Literature
with
Examples from Film
What is “conflict” in a story?
- The problem that must be solved
- The tension that makes the story interesting
- Moves the plot along
-Often a sense of good vs. evil
Freytag’s Triangle (Plot)
Why is CONFLICT important?
Without conflict, there is no plot!
 The
conflict is often introduced in rising action…
 Faced
head-on during climax…
 Begins
to work itself out during falling action…
 And
is resolved during denouement (a.k.a.
resolution)…
EXTERNAL CONFLICT
 An
external conflict is between a
character and some outside force.
Examples:
 Man vs. Man
 Man vs. Nature
 Man vs. Society
What type of
conflict is shown in
the Karate Kid (1984)?
MAN vs. MAN
A
character struggles with another
character.
 Protagonist vs. Antagonist or Hero vs.
Villain or Perpetrator vs. Victim
 The classic “good guy” vs. “bad guy”
situation
MAN vs. NATURE
A
character struggles with a force of
nature (natural disaster, desolation,
animal encounter, etc.)
 Usually, the
character is
struggling to
survive.
MAN vs. SOCIETY
A
character or a group of characters fight
against the society in which they live.
 The characters often fight against social
perceptions, traditions, laws, or penalties.
 Struggles could include
the fight for freedom,
against oppression,
against racism, for
progress or change,
etc.
INTERNAL CONFLICT
 An
internal conflict concerns an inside
source. The character is struggling with his
or her own mind, emotions,
and conscience. This
struggle often concerns a
difficult choice that the
character must make.
Examples:
 Man vs. Self
MAN vs. SELF
 The
character can be struggling with overcoming
his/her own mixed feelings and emotions like
pride, anger, patience, etc.
 Morals and values can also play a role in the
conflict. The character may need to do with a
choice between
right and wrong.
 The character can
also be suffering from
insanity or another
illness of the mind.
OTHER TYPES OF CONFLICT
 Man

Gods, ghosts, monsters, spirits, aliens, etc.
 Man

vs. Fate
Fight for choice; fight against destiny
 Man

vs. Supernatural
vs. Technology
Computers, machines, etc.