Literary Conflict Literary Conflict

External vs. InternalExternal vs. Internal

ExternalExternalExternal conflict takes place External conflict takes place

outside of the body.outside of the body.

InternalInternalInternal conflict takes place Internal conflict takes place

inside of the body/mind.inside of the body/mind.

External External

There are three types of There are three types of external conflict.external conflict.

ExternalExternal

Man vs. ManMan vs. ManThe most straightforward type of conflict pits the The most straightforward type of conflict pits the

protagonist directly against another character protagonist directly against another character with apparently opposing aims. with apparently opposing aims.

ExternalExternal

Man vs. NatureMan vs. NatureThis type of conflict pits a story's main character This type of conflict pits a story's main character

or characters against a natural force such as a or characters against a natural force such as a flood, predatory animal, or disease epidemic. flood, predatory animal, or disease epidemic.

ExternalExternal

Man Against SocietyMan Against SocietyIn many stories, the protagonist battles an unjust In many stories, the protagonist battles an unjust

element of government or culture.element of government or culture.

InternalInternal

There is one type of There is one type of external conflict.external conflict.

InternalInternal

Man vs. SelfMan vs. SelfSome literary conflicts take the form of a Some literary conflicts take the form of a

character struggling to overcome fear, character struggling to overcome fear, addiction, emotional damage or other crippling addiction, emotional damage or other crippling

personal issue. personal issue.

PracticePractice

Decide what type of conflict is Decide what type of conflict is being illustrated in the being illustrated in the

following pictures.following pictures.

1. Man vs. ?1. Man vs. ?

2. Man vs. ?2. Man vs. ?

3. Man vs. ?3. Man vs. ?

4. Man vs. 4. Man vs.

5. Man vs. ?5. Man vs. ?

6. Man vs. ?6. Man vs. ?

7. Man vs. ?7. Man vs. ?

8. Man vs. ?8. Man vs. ?

PracticePractice

Now that you have mastered Now that you have mastered pictures, let’s try some text!pictures, let’s try some text!

9. Man vs. ?9. Man vs. ?

““If she had only proceeded more slowly.If she had only proceeded more slowly.

If she had only taken the Southerly route, If she had only taken the Southerly route, avoiding the icebergs. If only the watch avoiding the icebergs. If only the watch

had had a pair of binoculars.”had had a pair of binoculars.”

(news story about the Titanic)(news story about the Titanic)

10. Man vs. ?10. Man vs. ?

Charles decided to break all the rules the Charles decided to break all the rules the day he decided to steal that car. He was day he decided to steal that car. He was immediately arrested and sent to jail to immediately arrested and sent to jail to await his trial. He should have known await his trial. He should have known better than to mess with the “rules.”better than to mess with the “rules.”

11. Man vs. ?11. Man vs. ?

““I don’t care who you talk I don’t care who you talk to!” screamed Sarah to to!” screamed Sarah to West. “I just wish I had West. “I just wish I had

never met you!”never met you!”

12. Man vs. ?12. Man vs. ?

After lowering himself into the damp and After lowering himself into the damp and dark cave Tom began to reprimand dark cave Tom began to reprimand himself for not having replaced his himself for not having replaced his

flashlight batteries. Tom’s terror slowly flashlight batteries. Tom’s terror slowly began to take over as the light around began to take over as the light around

him grew dimmer and dimmer and him grew dimmer and dimmer and dimmer.dimmer.

13. Man vs. ?13. Man vs. ?

After the light in the cave was After the light in the cave was completely gone Tom began to completely gone Tom began to

stumble through the cave blindly stumble through the cave blindly cutting his hands on what cutting his hands on what

appeared to be sharp rocks.appeared to be sharp rocks.

14. Man vs. ?14. Man vs. ?

Tom found a dry spot to sit down in Tom found a dry spot to sit down in the dark and began to obsess over the dark and began to obsess over an argument he had had earlier an argument he had had earlier

in the day with his mother in in the day with his mother in which he had said, “I hope I which he had said, “I hope I

never see you again!”never see you again!”

15. Man vs. ?15. Man vs. ?

Tom’s mother was upset that he wanted to Tom’s mother was upset that he wanted to skip going to college in order to go skip going to college in order to go

spelunking in all of the world’s greatest spelunking in all of the world’s greatest caves before he turned thirty. Tom didn’t caves before he turned thirty. Tom didn’t understand the big deal, he didn’t really understand the big deal, he didn’t really believe in structured “learning” anyway.believe in structured “learning” anyway.