Conflict: A struggle or clash between opposing forces or oppos-

ing characters. This struggle creates tension, problems or suspense throughout the
course of the story. A conflict can take place INTERNALLY ( within the heart or mind of a
character), or EXTERNALLY (between between a character and another or others, or between
a character and an outside force, such as a force of nature or society).

External Conflict: a struggle between a character

and an outside force. The outside force could be another
character, a social force or practice, or a force of nature.

Internal Conflict: a struggle within a character’s

mind. An internal conflict may occur when a character faces
a difficult decision or conflicting feelings.

There exist five types of conflict. Here they are:

Person versus Person Person versus Society Person versus Him/herself

Person versus Nature Person versus Fate

Person vs. Person is pretty basic. Characters often struggle with their friends or family or strangers.You’ve probably had a lot of
experience with this kind of conflict with your parents, siblings, teachers, friends, neighbors, strangers, or a bully, maybe?
Your Example:

Person vs. Society often arises when a character has a problem with a whole group of people, or if the character is an outcast from
that group, or fighting against the laws and rules of the society. For example, When Liza started to date the ex-convict, her neighbor-
hood turned against her.
Your Example:

Person vs. Him/herself is about the internal struggle of making a decision or choice. For example, Mr. Hundle has a fear of heights
but dreams of being a pilot, hel’ll have to overcome that fear and chase the dream.
Your Example:

Person vs. Nature involves conflict with a situation or forces beyond the character. Consider those disaster movies where the main
character struggles to survive a burning building, a runaway bus, a shipwreck, an airplane crash, etc., and you have Person vs. Nature.
Consider: Stranded in a scuba suit in the middle of the ocean, sharks circling in, how will Marcus get home safely?
Your Example:

Person vs. Fate doesn’t fit into any of the above. The conflict involves an unusual situation. The character has no control over what
happens; nothing he does makes a difference. Tragedies are often created with this type of conflict, like this: Even though he’d worked
for Silverton Staple Company for 26 years, Norman got laid off last week. The whole town was suffering financially, and Norman
couldn’t find a job, no matter how he tried. Eventually, he lost his home and he, his bride and his hungry children lived in their car
travelling to find work.
Your Example:
 Here’s the Situation. Diagnose the Conflict!
internal/external & which of the five types (could be more than one!)

1. Your mom is driving you and your friends to a big game in an-
other town. You left in plenty of time, but she seems to have lost
her way. It’s getting late and there’s no sign of the gym. You think
you saw a sign for the Sports Center a few blocks back. When
you tell your mom, she says, “Who’s driving: You or me?”

2. You have basketball practice, which you love, every Friday

night. Last week, though, you missed it because of a family com-
mitment. This week a friend has invited you to go to a great play.

3. Your class is working on social studies projects. Your group

has been working hard on a three-dimensional representation of
life along the Nile in Ancient Egypt. When the day comes for
groups to share projects, you see that another group did the exact
same thing!

4. You’re skiing with a friend, not really paying attention to

where you’re going. Suddenly you find yourself atop a double
black diamond icy slope — straight down! You’ve never skied
anything like this before!

5. Last week a group of seventh-graders left a mess in the lunch

room. They had to come back and clean it up. This week a group
of sixth-graders did the same thing and the lunch room aids gave
them all detention.

6. At a party you spent a lot of time talking to a friend from your

math class — just chatting. His girlfriend, however, has spread
rumors around school that you’re trying to take him away from
her.

7. Your school has a state level ice-hockey team — for boys.

When you and a group of girlfriends want to start a girls’ hockey
program, you’re told that, although it’s a nice idea, there just isn’t
enough money in the athletic budget.

8. You have a book report due on Friday. Even though you’ve

had several weeks to read, by Tuesday you’ve read only half the
book. To make things worse, your teacher has stated, “I have high
expectations for this assignment!”

9. You’re taking a shortcut through the woods to your cousin’s

house — with your five-year-old sister in tow. She scratches her
leg on a bush and whines, then it begins to rain very hard. You
want to make a run for it, but your sister refuses to budge. You’ve
never seen it rain like this before, and you’ve never been in this
part of the woods.

situations written by HoughtonMifflin Company

I see conflict... it’s everywhere...
Fill the boxes with evidence of conflict that you’ve seen.
Be specific and detailed, please. Scholar’s Name:
Conflict Internal or External? Which of the Five Types? How Conflict is Resolved
After realizing that Darth Internal, since Luke must Person vs. Person, and Luke resolves to NOT fight his
Vader is his father, Luke must decide and deal with Person vs. Himself father, the Emperor hurts him,
decide whether or not to conflicitng feelings toward his Darth Vader intercedes and
fight him or surrender to the father and his commitment to saves him and the father and son
Emperor the Rebellion. reconcile.

Your Example from a Film/TV Story:

Your Example from a Literary Story:

Your Example from Current Events:

Your Example from Your Experience: