Recognizing External Conflict: Tutorial

Which scenario is an example of a person-versus-nature conflict?

• an argument between two neighbors

• a person struggling to overcome a bad habit

• a family evacuating a city before an earthquake

Which situation is an example of a person-versus-person conflict?

• an argument between two politicians during an election debate

• a person having conflicting thoughts about telling the truth

• a person caught in a snowstorm miles away from any help

Which character might face a person-versus-society conflict in a story?

• a 16 year old, black and overweighed girl who becomes a single mom

• a successful scientist who works in a laboratory

• a billionaire who does good deeds to poor people

What is an internal conflict?

• a mental conflict in which a person tries to make a difficult choice

• a political struggle within a country to change the government

• a conflict among people from different sections of society

Which of the following examples is an internal conflict?

• a couple arguing over family expenses

• a court battle between two companies over money

• a man deciding whether or not to complain about his noisy neighbor

What type of external conflict occurs in the excerpt from Narrative of Sojourner Truth?

As she gained the summit of a high hill, a considerable distance from her master's, the sun offended her by coming forth in all his pristine splendor. She thought it never was so light before; indeed, she thought it much too light.

• person versus person

• person versus nature

• person versus society

• person versus self

In this excerpt from Narrative of Sojourner Truth, which external conflict occurs?

When her master saw her, he said, 'Well, Bell, so you've run away from me.' 'No, I did not run away; I walked away by day-light, and all because you had promised me a year of my time.' His reply was, 'You must go back with me.' Her decisive answer was, 'No, I won't go back with you.'

• Bell is in conflict with nature over the daylight 

• Bell is in conflict with her master over her enslavement

• Bell is in conflict with the society over slavery 

What are context clues?

• clues in a detective story used to catch a criminal

• clues in a text used to find the meaning of a word

• clues in a story used to discover a character’s true nature

Which context clues help people understand the meaning of "asylum" in this following text?

'Where, and to whom, shall I go?' In all her thoughts of getting away, she had not once asked herself whither she should direct her steps. She sat down, fed her infant, and again turning her thoughts to God, her only help, she prayed him to direct her to some safe asylum.

• she does not know where to go

• she prays God asking for directions

• she's looking for a safe place

• all are correct

Which context clue from the following text does NOT show that Mr. Isaac S. Van Wagener is a kind person and that he would treat Bell as a normal human being?

He answered, 'call me Isaac Van Wagener, and my wife is Maria Van Wagener.' Bell could not understand this, and thought it a mighty change, as it most truly was from a master whose word was law, to simple Isaac S. Van Wagener, who was master to no one.

• he is master to no one

• he is Maria's husband

• he wants to be called by his real name