Balancing Internal and External Conflict in Storytelling

The video explores the role of conflict in storytelling, focusing on internal and external conflicts. It explains how these conflicts drive character development and plot, using examples like Frodo Baggins and Sherlock Holmes. The video offers tips for balancing these conflicts to create engaging stories and discusses the use of archetypes. It concludes with advice on ensuring even minor characters face conflicts.

What are the two main types of conflict in storytelling?

• Personal and Professional

• Direct and Indirect

• Physical and Emotional

• Internal and External

Which of the following is an example of external conflict?

• A character's internal debate about a moral decision

• A character's struggle with guilt

• A character's quest to find a lost treasure

• A character's fear of heights

What is often the primary mission of a character dealing with external conflict?

• To find inner peace

• To resolve their internal struggles

• To overcome obstacles in the outside world

• To develop personal relationships

Which of the following best describes internal conflict?

• A character's battle with a natural disaster

• A character's struggle with their own emotions

• A character's journey through a dangerous location

• A character's fight against an antagonist

What can happen if a story focuses too much on external conflict?

• The characters may become too complex

• The plot may become too simple

• The story may become too emotional

• The characters may feel flat and uninteresting

How can a writer balance internal and external conflicts?

• By focusing only on external conflicts

• By making the story solely character-driven

• By ensuring one type of conflict informs or impacts the other

• By ignoring internal conflicts

In the BBC adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, what is Holmes' internal conflict?

• His limited social skills

• His fear of heights

• His struggle with guilt

• His quest for justice

What is an example of an archetypal external conflict?

• A character's fear of failure

• A character's internal debate about a moral decision

• A father angered that his son doesn't follow in his footsteps

• A character's struggle with their own identity

Why might a writer use archetypes in their story?

• To avoid clichés

• To make the journey interesting

• To simplify the plot

• To focus solely on character development

Why is it important for minor characters to have their own conflicts?

• To distract from the main plot

• To add depth and realism to the story

• To make the main character look better

• To fill up space in the narrative