Conflict in LiteratureOriginally by gherm6 (just added some

examples)

What is “conflict” in a story?

*problem*tension*good vs. evil

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…”

INTERNAL CONFLICT An internal conflict is between a

character and his/her self.

Man vs. Self

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.”

OTHER TYPES OF CONFLICT

Man vs. Supernatural Gods, ghosts, monsters, spirits, aliens,

etc. Man vs. Fate

Fight for choice; fight against destiny Man vs. Technology

Computers, machines, etc.