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Types of Conflict in Literature

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Protagonist versus Antagonist

Conflict is the dramatic struggle between opposing forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot. The protagonist (main character) struggles against the antagonist in the story's main conflict. The antagonist can be a person, idea, emotion, decision, nature, rules and laws.

Multiple Choice

The main character in a story is called the:

• Antagonist

• Conflict

• Protagonist

Multiple Choice

True or False: The antagonist in the story has to be a person or an animal.

• True

• False

Person Versus Person

In this type of conflict, the central character clashes with another person. It doesn’t always have to be a person. They could be animals for instance. I guess It’s just easier to say person instead of entity.

Example: Jimmy and Eric compete for the same position on the baseball team.

Person Versus Self

When a story has a person vs. self conflict, the main character battles him or herself. He or she may lack confidence or ability. He or she may have to make a difficult choice. Or he or she may have to address a personal problem. The key here is that the battle occurs within the character, though it may involve and affect other characters.

Example: Alexa caught her friend Jamie stealing from a classmate. Now Alexa must choose between keeping her friendship with Jamie and doing the right thing.

Person versus Society

With this type of conflict, the main character challenges a law, tradition, or institution. The main character or characters may battle against the forces that represent these institutions.

Example: Vanessa makes an art project protesting police brutality. Her art teacher loves the project and tries to feature it in the town art show, but the county commission rejects the project. Now Vanessa, her art teacher are going to fight for the freedom of expression.

Multiple Choice

Brian has the best dog in the world. In fact, he has one of the only dogs in the world. That's because dogs are not allowed in Brian's world, where people believe dogs spread diseases. Brian's dog will be executed if he's caught. Soon Brian learns of a mysterious underground, dog owner's club and joins the fight to legalize dogs. Can Brian and his friends prove to the world that dogs are safe and friendly?

• Person vs. Person

• Person vs. Self

• Person vs. Society

Multiple Choice

After breaking his mother's favorite vase, Casey struggles to decide whether he should tell his mother the truth or attempt to hide his mistake and blame the family dog.

• Person vs. Person

• Person vs. Self

• Person vs. Society

Person versus Nature

When a story has a person vs. nature conflict, the main character fights to endure or overcome forces of nature. He or she may struggle to survive harsh elements, navigate through a disaster, or meet his or her basic needs. Stories with this type of conflict may occur in the wilderness often, but they can occur in urban settings too.

Example: Alex and Scott are out at sea on a small fishing boat when a large storm hits. After their boat flips over and sinks during the storm, Alex and Scott struggle to make it back to the shore. Just when they think that things can’t get any worse, they see a shark fin circling them.

Person Versus Supernatural

In stories with this type of conflict, the main character resists forces that are not of this world. He or she may battle monsters or strange creatures. He or she may challenge beings with magical powers. Or he or she may encounter hostile aliens. The key to this conflict is that forces that are not of this world threaten the main character.

Example: Tara and her friends accept a dare to sleepover in the old abandoned house on the hill. They acted brave at first, but when they started seeing ghosts they tried to run. Trapped in the haunted house, Tara and her friends struggle to escape with their lives.

Multiple Choice

Jamie is on a whitewater-rafting trip along a choppy river when their guide suddenly has a heart attack. Now she and the other passengers must learn to work together to survive the treacherous rapids. As if things weren't bad enough, some of the passengers have spotted a bear following the confused rafters along the shore. Will Jamie make it home safely?

• Person vs. Self

• Person vs. Nature

• Person vs. Supernatural

Person Versus Technology

In a story with this type of conflict, the main character resists technological forces. He or she may battle rouge robots or hostile computers. Or he or she may just struggle to accept or use the technology of a changing world.

Example: Bob is a salesman who never adapted to the new ways of doing business. Now he has a new boss who forces Bob to send text messages and emails. Bob struggles to use these technologies and fears that he will lose his job. But maybe some help from his youngest son will help Bob catch up to the pace of business today.

Multiple Choice

As far back as Brendan could remember, he only wanted one girl, Alice Daily. He thought she was perfect, but every time he went to talk to her, he got butterflies in his stomach, and could not get a word out. To get over his fear, he asks cool guy, Max Mason, to teach him how to talk to girls. Will Brendan work up the guts to ask Alice out, or will he not be able to talk to her?

• Person vs. Self

• Person vs. Nature

• Person versus Supernatural

Multiple Choice

It's the year 3030 and society has become completely dependent on computers and robots. A young boy named Domino is flying his hoverboard to school when all of the machines start attacking people due to a powerful computer virus. What will Domino do now that the machines that are supposed to help him have turned against him?

• Person vs. Person

• Person vs. Supernatural

• Person vs. Technology

Multiple Choice

Kelly just wanted a cup of coffee, but the coffee machine in the office is on the fritz. This inconvenient situation turns into an epic battle when Kelly refuses to take "it's broken" for an answer. Join Kelly as she spends the better part of her workday fiddling with the coffee maker in a desperate attempt to get caffeinated.

• Person vs. Nature

• Person vs. Supernatural

• Person vs. Technology

Multiple Choice

Kyle thought it was a little weird this morning when his neighbor tried to eat him, but it wasn't until about halfway through first period that he realized why: Kyle's community is under a full-scale zombie attack. Kyle escapes from the Zombie Principal's office to find help, but the school's former bullies are now zombies. Kyle is going to have to get creative to survive this one.

• Person vs. Person

• Person vs. Supernatural

• Person vs. Technology