Conflict in Literature

What makes a book or movie exciting? What makes you want to keep reading to
find out what happens or stay until the end of the movie? Conflict. Yes, conflict. It
is a necessary element of any story, driving the narrative forward and compelling
the reader to stay up all night reading in hopes of some sort of closure. Most
stories are written to have characters, a setting and a plot, but what sets apart a
truly great story from the one that might not finish reading is conflict.

Basically we can define conflict as a struggle between opposing forces - two

characters, a character and nature, or even an internal struggle - conflict provides
a level of angst into a story that engages the reader and makes him or her
invested in finding out what happens. So how do you best create conflict?

First, you need to understand the different types of conflict, which can essentially
be broken down into two categories: internal and external conflict. An internal
conflict tends to be one in which the main character struggles with himself, such
as a decision he needs to make or a weakness he has to overcome. An external
conflict is one in which the character faces a challenge with an external force, like
another character, an act of nature, or even society.

From there, we can break down conflict into seven different examples (though
some say there are only four at most). Most stories focus on one particular
conflict, but it's also possible that a story can contain more than one.

The most common kinds of conflict are:

• Man versus Self (internal)

• Man versus Nature (external)
• Man versus Man (external)
• Man versus Society (external)

A further breakdown would include:

• Man versus Technology (external)

• Man versus God or Fate (external)
• Man versus Supernatural (external)

Man versus Self

This type of conflict occurs when a character struggles with an internal issue. The
conflict can be an identity crisis, mental disorder, moral dilemma, or simply
choosing a path in life. Examples of man versus self can be found in the novel,
"Requiem for a Dream," which discusses the internal struggles with addiction.

Man versus Man

When you have both a protagonist (good guy) and antagonist (bad guy) at odds,
you have the man versus man conflict. Which character is which may not always
be evident, but in this version of the conflict, there are two people, or groups of
people, that have goals or intentions that conflict with each other. The resolution
comes when one overcomes the obstacle created by the other. In the book "Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland," written by Lewis Carroll, our protagonist, Alice, is
faced with numerous other characters that she must face off with as part of her
journey.

Man versus Nature

Natural disasters, weather, animals, and even just the earth itself can create this
type of conflict for a character. "The Revenant" is a good example of this conflict.
Although revenge, a more man versus man type of conflict, is a driving force, the
majority of the narrative centers around Hugh Glass’s journey across hundreds of
miles after being attack by a bear and enduring extreme conditions.

Man versus Society

This is the sort of conflict you see in books that have a character at odds against
the culture or government in which they live. Books like "The Hunger Games"
demonstrate the way a character is presented with the problem of accepting or
enduring what is considered a norm of that society but in conflict with the
protagonist’s moral values.

Man versus Technology

When a character is confronted with the consequences of the machines and/or
artificial intelligence created by man, you have the man versus technology
conflict. This is a common element used in science fiction writing. Isaac Asimov’s
"I, Robot" is a classic example of this, with robots and artificial intelligence
surpassing the control of man.

Man versus God or Fate

This type of conflict can be a bit more difficult to differentiate from man versus
society or man, but it is usually dependent upon an outside force directing the
path of a character. In the Harry Potter series, Harry’s destiny has been foretold
by a prophecy. He spends his adolescence struggling to come to terms with the
responsibility thrust upon him from infancy.

Man versus Supernatural

One can describe this as the conflict between a character and some unnatural
force or being. "The Last Days of Jack Sparks" demonstrates not only the struggle
with an actual supernatural being, but the struggle man has with knowing what to
believe about it.

Combinations of Conflict
Some stories will combine several types of conflict to create an even more
intriguing journey. We see examples of woman versus self, woman versus nature,
and woman versus other people in the book, "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed. After
dealing with tragedy in her life, including the death of her mother and a failed
marriage, she embarks on a solo journey to hike more than a thousand miles
along the Pacific Crest Trail. Cheryl must deal with her own internal struggles but
is also faced with a number of external struggles throughout her journey, ranging
from weather, wild animals, and even people she encounters along the way.