CONFLICT

IN
LITERATURE

Adapted from podcasts.shelbyed.k12.al.us/j3watts/files/.../CONFLICT-Power-Point

Freytags
Pyramid

Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of

a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions
within a story.

Plot Components
Climax: the turning point, the
most intense momenteither
mentally or in action
Rising Action: the series of
conflicts and crisis in the story
that lead to the climax

Falling Action: all of the

action which follows the
climax

Exposition: the start of the

story, the situation before the
action starts

Resolution: the conclusion,

the tying together of all of the
threads

Plot: Conflict

Conflict is the dramatic struggle

between two forces in a story.
Without conflict, there is no
plot.

Conflicts and
Characters
The

main character is the

protagonist.

The

opposing force or
character is the antagonist.

Types of Conflict

Character vs. Character

Character vs. Nature

Character vs. Society

Character vs. Himself

Conflicts and
Characters
Protagonist

vs. Antagonist
Character vs. Character
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Himself

Conflicts can be
either.
EXTERNAL
Or

INTERNAL

EXTERNAL CONFLICT involves a

struggle between a character
and a force outside of himself.

Society
Another
as a whole

Nature
Character

Cinderella

The Three Little Pigs

The Perfect Storm

To Kill a Mockingbird

INTERNAL CONFLICT is a struggle

between a character and
something within himself/herself.
This could be his/her conscience,
fear, love or other struggles of that
source.

The Judgment of
Paris
Whom
should I
choose?

Group Work Turn and

Talk
Read the following excerpt from
Sakis The Interlopers. Turn and
talk with a partner and decide
what kind of conflict is evident.
What are some solutions to this
conflict?

a mass of falling beech tree had thundered

down on them. Ulrich Von Gradwitz found
himself stretched on the ground, one arm
numb beneath him and the other held
almost as helplessly in a tight tangle of
forked branches, while both legs were
pinned beneath the fallen mass. His heavy
shooting boots had saved his feet from
being crushed to pieces, but if his fractures
were not as serious as they might have
been, at least it was evident that he could
not move from his present position till
someone came to release him

WHAT TYPE OF
CONFLICT?

External Conflict!
Man V. Nature
1.

What is nature as represented

here?

2.

How can this struggle be resolved?

3.

What would your thoughts be at

this time?

Group Work Turn and

Talk
Now read the following excerpt
from The Most Dangerous
Game. Again identify the
conflict and explain what kind
of conflict it is.

Rainsford had fought his way

through the bush for two hours. I
must keep my nerve. I must keep my
nerve, he said through tight teeth.
He had not been entirely clearheaded when the chateau gates
snapped shut behind him. His whole
idea at first was to put distance
between himself and General Zaroff,
and, to this end, he had plunged
along, spurred on by the sharp rowels
of something very like panic.

WHAT TYPE OF
CONFLICT?

Internal Conflict!
Man V. Himself
1.

What is Rainsford fighting here?

2.

What seems to have caused this

conflict?

Sum Up

There are three types of external

conflict: Man V. Man, Man V.
Nature, and Man V. Society.
There is one type of internal
conflict: Man vs. Himself.
Conflict is ESSENTIAL to any story.