Conflict

Open Ended

DO NOW:

Think of a time where you had conflict with someone or something. Describe that conflict in the box below: What was the conflict? Who was involved? How was it resolved (if it was resolved)?

Types of Conflict

• At the heart of every story is a conflict. When we hear the word "conflict," we often associate it with a disagreement, a fight, or a quarrel.

• In the context of a story, the conflict does not always need to be dramatic:

• It is simply the dynamic between the protagonist, their goal, and the obstacles and barriers that prevent them from achieving such goal.

• Conflict can be an internal or external force

Why is there
conflict?

Conflict exists in the story

because it is the driving force

behind the plot, as well as an

engaging element for the

audience.

Without a problem to overcome,

there is no story!

Six Types of Conflict

Man vs. Self

Man vs. Nature

Man vs. Man

Man vs. Society

Man vs. Technology

Man vs. Supernatural

A character faces personal, internal

challenges.

• The protagonist has a goal.

• The protagonist is held back by their own

body or mind.

• The protagonist must overcome their

internal challenges.

Internal Conflict:

Man vs. Self

External Conflict:
Man vs. Man

Two characters are challenging one another

• The protagonist has a goal

• The

antagonist interferes

with

the

protagonist

• The

protagonist must

overcome

the

antagonist

External Conflict:

Man vs. Nature

A character is challenged by their environment.

• The protagonist has a goal

• The protagonist is held back by natural forces,

weather, or an act of God

• The protagonist must overcome their

environment

• The environmental force usually has a deeper

symbolic meaning

A character is challenged by their group.

• The protagonist is unique
• The protagonist is criticized for their

differences

• The protagonist must change

themselves or change the group

External
Conflict:
Man vs.
Society

External Conflict:
Man vs.
Technology

The character is against technology.

• The protagonist has a goal

• The protagonist is held back by the forces of a computer, robot, or artificial intelligence (A.I.)

• The protagonist has a goal.

• The external force is a force that is considered to be god like or supernatural (fate, magical forces, otherworldly beings, religion, or dieties)

External
Conflict:
Man vs.
Supernatural

The protagonist is challenged by a force not of this world

Let's Practice!

• The expectation is that you are to watch the video presented on the screen.

• Once the video is over, you will select the type of conflict that best fits what you witnessed in the video clip.

Multiple Choice

Is conflict internal or external?

• Internal

• External

• Both

• Neither

Multiple Choice

What type of conflict is the protagonist facing?

• Man v. Man

• Man v. Self

• Man v. Society

• Man v. Nature

Multiple Choice

What type of conflict is the protagonist facing?

• Man v. Man

• Man v. Supernatural

• Man v. Society

• Man v. Technology

Multiple Choice

What type of conflict is the protagonist facing?

• Man v. Technology

• Man v. Society

• Man v. Self

• Man v. Supernatural

Multiple Choice

What type of conflict is the protagonist facing?

• Man v. Supernatural

• Man v. Man

• Man v. Society

• Man v. Technology

Multiple Choice

What type of conflict is the protagonist facing?

• Man v. Nature

• Man v. Man

• Man v. Supernatural

• Man v. Self

Multiple Choice

What type of conflict is the protagonist facing?

• Man v. Self

• Man v. Society

• Man v. Technology

• Man v. Nature

Now you are going to practice!

• The expectation is that you will be put into 6 groups (3-5 people per group depending on class size).

• Your group will then be assigned 1 of the 6 types of conflict by spinning the wheel (https://wheelofnames.com/uhz-fda).

• Once you have your conflict, your group will get 20 minutes to create a scene (a written scene, a drawing of a scene, both) focused around that type of conflict.

• After the 20 minutes is up, you will post your scenes around the room and the other groups will get 5 minutes to go around and look at your scenes.

• After the 5 minutes is up, we will come back together as a class and 1 person from each group will explain, in detail, their scene to the class and why they chose it.