Literary Conflict

by Jason W.
In a story, conflict is the struggle
between opposing forces.
Conflict is plot. Without it, you
have no story.
Conflict in literature sets a
protagonist against an
antagonist.
Protagonists are the main characters.

Antagonists are any force

opposing the protagonist.
Man vs. man conflict sets a protagonist
against human (or human-like) antagonist.
This also includes conflicts against
supernatural or fantasy beings that are
...and animal on animal if your
protagonist is an animal.
Man vs. nature sets the protagonist
against a force of nature.
 NOT THIS

THIS

Man vs. nature can also be living

things from nature if they are not
human-like characters of the story.
Man vs. society sets the protagonist
against elements of government or
culture.
Man vs. society is a struggle against a
whole culture, the way things are.
Man vs. self conflict
sets the protagonist
against himself or
herself.
This is internal conflict. It all happens
inside the character’s mind.
Making a decision or overcoming
guilt, sadness, or fear are all
examples of man vs. self conflict.
How about some
practice?
Practice identifying what type of
conflict is being illustrated on the
following slides then take the quiz
at the end to check your answers.
More
practice!
Now try with videos.
Just a bit more...
Try identifying the the of conflict in
the following story excerpts.
Charles decided to break all the rules the
day he decided to steal that car. He was
immediately arrested and sent to jail to
await his trial. He should have known
better than to mess with the “rules.”
“I don’t care who you talk to!” screamed
Sarah to Bob. “I just wish I had never met
you!”
After the light in the cave was completely
gone Tom began to stumble through the
cave blindly cutting his hands on what
appeared to be sharp rocks.
Tom found a dry spot to sit down in the
dark and began to feel guilty over an
argument he had had earlier in the day with
his mother in which he had said, “I hope I
never see you again!”
How do you think you did?
Take the quiz and check your
answers.

Click the button below to get

started.
Begin quiz