CONFLICT
The Struggle
The problem(s) in a story.
The fight between the
PROTAGONIST and the
ANTAGONIST
Conflict
1. Creates interest
2. Builds Suspense
3. Makes you want to read on
CONFLICT CREATES THE PLOT
IN NOVELS.
CONFLICT
ACTION OF
CHARACTERS IN RESPONSE TO THE
CONFLICT
7 CONFLICTS IN LITERATURE
1. MAN AGAINST MAN
MAN VERSUS MAN
This is the most common and the most
basic of the conflicts
Batman
Stanley Yelnets
Harry Potter
The Joker
The Warden
Malfoy
7 CONFLICTS IN LITERATURE
2. MAN AGAINST HIMSELF
MAN VERSUS HIMSELF
This is where the protagonist must struggle with his/her
inner self.
It is a mental struggle such as:
1. making choices
“Should I ask Mary to the dance?”
2. what should I do
“Should I follow the crowd or be independent?”
7 CONFLICTS IN LITERATURE
3. MAN AGAINST THE UNKNOWN
MAN VERSUS THE UNKNOWN
This involves FATE or the FUTURE
“Will I graduate from college?”
“Will I be happy in Life?”
7 CONFLICTS IN LITERATURE
4. MAN AGAINST NATURE
MAN VERSUS NATURE
Human like versus the elements in nature
A man attempts to climb a mountain
A woman sails the ocean is a storm
7 CONFLICTS IN LITERATURE
1. MAN AGAINST SOCIETY
MAN VERSUS SOCIETY
This involves cultures, belief systems, laws
A law states that a character cannot vote
because he cannot read.
7 CONFLICTS IN LITERATURE
1. MAN AGAINST the SUPERNATURAL
MAN VERSUS the SUPERNATURAL
This conflict includes ghosts, ESP, goblins,
Werewolves, etc.
A character is haunted by a ghost or an
alien being.
7 CONFLICTS IN LITERATURE
1. MAN AGAINST MACHINES
MAN VERSUS MACHINES
A character builds a computerized machine
that develops a mind of its own.
Examples: Terminator
I Robot
CONFLICTS
Most novels have more than one kind of
conflict.
They have a MAJOR conflict and one or two
minor conflicts. Minor conflicts cause
SUB PLOTS.
CONFLICT CREATES THE PLOT