Conflict

A conflict is a struggle between two or more opposing forces. 

Conflicts can be INTERNAL or EXTERNAL...

• Internal conflicts exist within the character's mind

• External conflicts exist outside the character's mind

Multiple Choice

The video you just watched mostly demonstrated which kind of conflict?

• Internal

• External

CHARACTER VS. SELF

• This is an internal conflict.

• Character vs. self occurs when a protagonist faces mixed emotions over their true self, actions, emotions, or perhaps a decision that has to be made/has been made.

CHARACTER VS. CHARACTER(S)

• This is an external conflict.

• Character vs. character occurs when the protagonist struggles with one or more other characters.

CHARACTER VS. SOCIETY

• This is an external conflict.

• A conflict with society occurs when a character disagrees with the rules or is mistreated as a result of the rules.

• ​Protagonist faces a problem with a larger group: a community, culture, belief system, rules & laws.

• The majority of the community or surroundings is acting against the protagonist.

CHARACTER VS. NATURE

• This is an external conflict.

• Protagonist faces a problem with weather, their environment/the terrain, animals, etc.

• A conflict with nature occurs when a character is struggling for their very survival against the natural world.

CHARACTER VS. TECHNOLOGY

• This is an external conflict.

• Protagonist faces a problem with the power of machine and/or technology.

• Often times in Character vs. Technology stories, robots or machines will have minds of their own and create a struggle with humans

CHARACTER VS. SUPERNATURAL/FATE

• This is an external conflict.

• Protagonist faces a powerful supernatural force or being.

• Supernatural forces include fate, deities, magical forces, and otherworldly beings, like ghosts & monsters.

DID YOU NOTICE A PATTERN WITH THESE CONFLICTS?

1. In literature, conflict is always defined with a “vs.” comparison. EX: Character vs. Character

2. ​Conflict is often described as man vs. ________, but we will use character vs. ________ as it is more inclusive.

3. ​ In literature, the only internal conflict is character vs. self!

LET'S REVIEW!

Watch each clip, then answer the question that follows by choosing which conflict the clip mostly portrayed. Each conflict will only be used ONCE!

Multiple Choice

Which conflict did that scene from Back to the Future II mostly portray?

• Character vs. Character

• Character vs. Self

• Character vs. Nature

• Character vs. Society

Multiple Choice

Which conflict did that Cast Away clip mostly portray?

• Character vs. Society

• Character vs. Nature

• Character vs. Technology

• Character vs. Character

Multiple Choice

Which conflict did that clip from A League of their Own mostly portray?

• Character vs. Self

• Character vs. Supernatural

• Character vs. Society

• Character vs. Nature

Multiple Choice

Which conflict did that clip from Toy Story mostly portray?

• Character vs. Society

• Character vs. Self

• Character vs. Nature

• Character vs. Supernatural

Multiple Choice

Which conflict did that scene from Harry Potter mostly portray?

• Character vs. Supernatural

• Character vs. Society

• Character vs. Self

• Character vs. Nature

Multiple Choice

Which conflict did that Lifted short mostly portray?

• Character vs. Self

• Character vs. Technology

• Character vs. Society

• Character vs. Supernatural

Poll

Now that you have reviewed the different kinds of literary conflict, do you think the MAIN conflict in Echo or Refugee was INTERNAL or EXTERNAL?

• Internal

• External

Poll

If you chose EXTERNAL, which conflict do you think was the MAIN conflict?

• Character vs. Character OR Character vs. Society

• Character vs. Nature OR Character vs. Supernatural

• Character vs. Technology

• I chose internal, SO Character vs. Self