Plot: Conflict
Conflict is the dramatic struggle
between two forces in a story.
Without conflict, there is no plot.
There are four types of conflict:
character vs. character, character
vs. nature, character vs. self and
character vs. society.
Character vs Character
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character, human or not human.
Zlateh the Goat
Stray
Ex. Aaron vs. Reuven
Evidence: Aaron
understood what it meant
to take the goat to Feivel
but he had to obey his
father. P. 223
Ex. Doris vs. Mr. Lacey
Evidence: Mr. Lacey
opened up the trunk …
Doris … hugging a pillow
rocking back and
forth…trying not to cry. P.
26
Ex. Leah, Anna, and
Miriam vs. Reuven
Evidence: Leah wiped the
tears from her eyes; Anna
and Miriam cried loudly. P.
223
Ex. Doris vs. Mrs. Lacey
Evidence: “Mama, Please.”
Mrs. Lacey shook her
head, “You know we can’t
afford a dog…” p. 26
Ex. Zlateh vs. Aaron
Stubbornly she anchored
her cleft hooves in the
earth and bleated as if
pleading … dragging
Zlateh after him. P. 225226.
Character vs Nature
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.
.
Zlateh the Goat
Stray
Ex. Aaron and Zlateh vs.
the snow
Evidence: p. 225 “Aaron
knew that if they did not
find shelter they would
freeze to death.”
Ex. Dog vs. snow
Evidence: snowdrifts
swallowed up
automobiles.. Puppy
trembling with… cold
p. 24-25
Ex.
Evidence:
Ex.
Evidence:
Character vs Self
In this type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict.
Zlateh the Goat
Stray
Ex. Zlateh vs. self
Evidence:p. 224 “Where
are you taking me? But
after awhile she came to
the conclusion that a goat
shouldn’t ask questions.”
Ex.
Evidence:
Ex. Reuven vs. self
Evidence: p. 222 “After
long hesitation he decided
to sell Zlateh the goat. She
was old and and gave little
milk.”
Ex.
Evidence:
Character vs Society
This type of conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.
.
The Hunger
Games
Ex. Katniss and Peeta
vs. the government
Among the
Hidden
Ex. Parents of Jen and
Luke
Evidence: Both of them
decide to eat the
berries so there is no
winner of The Hunger
Games.
Evidence: Parents hide
these third children from
the government.
Ex. The Johansens vs.
the Nazis
Evidence: The
Johansens hide Ellen
from the Nazis so they
cannot capture her.
Ex.
Evidence:
Ex.
Evidence:
Number the Stars