Learning Objectives

At the end of this meeting, you will be able to:

1 discover the six types of conflict in

literature;

2 compose a short story using literary

conflict and their solution; and

3 suggest non-violent solutions to

conflict in real-life situations.
 6 Types
of Literary
Conflict
Literary Conflict
In literature, a conflict is a literary device
characterized by a struggle between two
opposing forces.

Conflict provides crucial tension in any

story and is used to drive the narrative
forward.
Literary Conflict
It reveals a deeper meaning in a narrative
while highlighting characters’
motivations, values and weaknesses.

Conflict is an important element in the

study of stories, novels, plays, movies,
etc.
2 Categories of Conflict
Internal Conflict

External Conflict
Internal Conflict is when a
character struggles with
their own opposing desires Internal
or beliefs. Internal conflict Conflict
happens within them and it
drives their development as
a character.
 External Conflict sets a
character against something or
someone beyond their control.
External External forces stand in the way
Conflict of a character’s motivations and
create tension as the character
tries to reach their goals.
 Types of Conflict

MAN MAN MAN

VS VS VS
SELF MAN NATURE

MAN MAN MAN

VS VS VS
SOCIETY SUPERNATURAL TECHNOLOGY
Internal Conflict

MAN
VS
SELF
 External Conflict
MAN MAN
VS VS
MAN NATURE

MAN MAN MAN

VS VS VS
SOCIETY SUPERNATURAL TECHNOLOGY
 The Lion King
Simba struggles with uncertainty and fear.

INSERT TRAILER

MAN
VS
SELF
 -the opposition that the
character faces is coming
within
MAN
VS
SELF This may entail a struggle to
discern what the moral or
“right” choice is, or it may also
encompass mental health
struggles.
-When Superman and Hulk get into a fight.

MAN
VS
MAN
-the most common type of conflict in
which one character’s needs or
wants are at odds with another’s.
MAN
-A character conflict can be VS
depicted as a straight-forward fist MAN
fight, or as intricate and nuanced as
the ongoing struggle for power in the
HBO Series of Game of Thrones.
 San Andreas (2015)

INSERT TRAILER

MAN
VS
NATURE
 a character is set in opposition
MAN to nature. This can mean the
VS
NATURE weather, the wilderness, or a
natural disaster.
Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013)
A mentally challenged man wrongfully imprisoned for murder, who builds
friendships with the hardened criminals in his cell, who in return help him see his
daughter again by smuggling her into the prison.

-
MAN
VS p
SOCIETY w
a
o

C
-occurs in literature when the
protagonist is placed in opposition
with the society, the government, or
a cultural tradition or societal norm
of some kind.
MAN
VS
Characters may be motivated to SOCIETY
take action against their society by
a need to survive, a moral sense of
right and wrong, or a desire for
happiness, freedom, justice or love.
 Wansapanataym: Maan Antukin

MAN
VS
SUPERNATURAL
 When a character gets in conflict with
someone or something that is out of
the world or not real.
MAN
VS -pitting against phenomena like ghosts,
SUPERNATURAL
gods, or monsters raises the stakes of a
conflict by creating an unequal
playing field.
Black Mirror: Ashley Too

MAN
VS
TECHNOLOGY
-a character is in conflict with some
kind of technology. It is the hallmark
of science fiction, which explores
the problems that arise when
technology grows beyond its
MAN
intended use.
VS
TECHNOLOGY
-raises poignant questions for the
characters and readers alike about
what it means to be human and
sets us apart from machines.
Why is conflict important in
a story?

Most of the time, readers become more interested in

a literary piece because of the tension in the story.
Readers are simply hooked in order to discover which
of the characters or forces will eventually prevail.
Why is conflict important in
a story?
Conflict is a necessary element for all stories whether it
is a novel, short story, mystery, romance, children’s
story, because it makes the plot interesting and
exciting.
A conflict in a literary piece also reveals opposing
beliefs and truths about life that readers can easily
relate to.
In reality, conflict is not
always bad and does not
have to result in violence or
hurt feelings.
In literary selections, whether a conflict escalates,
ends negatively or is resolved and ends peacefully – it
is entirely based on the choices a character/s make.

The choices made by a character in a story reveals

their feelings, values and attitudes. Most often than
not, their response to a conflict determines how a
situation ends.
If you will resolve a conflict violently, will
it actually resolve it?
What is the beauty of solving conflicts in a
non-violent way?
Group Activity

1 COMIC STRIP

2 JINGLE

30-SECOND MOVIE
3 TRAILER

4 POEM