What’s the problem?

Types of Conflict in Literature

Plot: a ReviewPlot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.

Plot: Conflict

• Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

Characters

• Protagonist: the central character in the conflict

• Antagonist: the force in conflict with the protagonist

There are two categories of conflict

• Some types of conflict are external or in other words, located outside of the character. You and anyone else can witness the conflict.

• Other types of conflict are internal or in other words, located inside of the character. Usually only the character knows about these.

The four conflicts

• External Conflicts:

• Character vs. Character

• Character vs. Environment

• Character vs. Society

• Internal Conflict:

• Character vs. Self

Character vs. Character Conflict

• This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character, human or not human. This conflict is external.

Character vs. Environment Conflict

This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist. This conflict is external.

Character vs. Society Conflict

This type of conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.This conflict is external.

Character vs. Self Conflict

Also called Internal Conflict

In this type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict.

Charlotte Doyle

Chapters 1-2

Learning Target

• Analyzing quotes to determine conflict

Assignment• 1. Read the following quotes. For each quote, describe the

conflict.

• “But . . . but that would be all men, Mr. Grummage! And . . . I am a girl. It would be wrong” Page 14

• “What could I do? All my life I had been trained to obey, educated to accept. I could hardly change in a moment.” Page 17

• 2. Reread page 23-24. Charlotte and Zachariah have just met. Describe the possible conflict Charlotte and Zachariah might have.