Permanent Index

Name: ________________________ Date: ______________Adv: _____

#12

Literary Element:
Conflict
What is conflict? The TENSION_ between opposing forces.
Conflict can be INTERNAL or EXTERNAL.
What are the four types of conflict?
1. Character vs. _character__ (internal or external?)
2. Character vs. __self_ (internal or external?)
3. Character vs. _nature_ (internal or external?)
4. Character vs. society (internal or external?)

When in the plot do conflicts start? __rising action

When in the plot do conflicts end? _ resolution

Protagonists and Antagonists

A protagonist is the main character of the plot who experiences conflict.
An antagonist is the main of the protagonist who causes conflict.
Note: The antagonist may not be a living creature. It could be an idea, a
feeling, a natural disaster, or a hostile environment.
Circle the antagonist in these conflicts! Who CAUSES the conflict?
Character vs. Character
Character vs. Self
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society

The Color of My Words by Lynn Joseph

Protagonist______________________________
Antagonist(s) ________________________________________________

Seventh Grade by Gary Soto

Protagonist______________________________
Antagonist(s) ________________________________________________

Your SSR Book: ______________________________________

Protagonist______________________________
Antagonist(s) ________________________________________________
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TYPE OF CONFLICT
CHARACTER VERSUS CHARACTER:

EXAMPLE

Example 1: Two students fighting over

something.

One character has a problem with

Example 2: In Matilda by Roald Dahl,

Matilda is a student who fights with her

another character, human or not

teacher.

human. This shows an external

struggle.
CHARACTER VERSUS SELF:

Example 1: In Seventh Grade, Victor is

insecure and does not know how to get

A character struggles with something

in internally (self-doubt, anxiety,

Teresas attention.

has self-doubt, anxiety and is self-

indecision). This shows an internal

conscious because of how she looks.

struggle.
CHARACTER VERSUS NATURE:

Example 2: In The Skin Im In, Maleeka

Example 1: A student has problems

getting to school in the hurricane

A character struggles with the forces

of nature.

because of flooding and T-closings.

Example 2: In Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, a

boy has to fight to survive after being
lost in the wilderness.

CHARACTER VERSUS SOCIETY:

Example 1: Irene Morgan refuses to give

up her seat on a segregated bus. She
feels she is being treated unjustly, so

A character is defying some the

she goes to fight for integration in

traditions, rules and views of a larger

group.

Virginia courts.

Example 2: In The Color of My Words,

nobody believes Ana Rosa when she sees
a sea monster. She is an outsider and
does not fit in with the other people in
her village.
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