Literary Conflict : Literary Conflict : the the struggle that takes place in struggle that takes place in

the storythe story

External vs. InternalExternal vs. Internal

ExternalExternalExternal ConflictExternal Conflict takes place takes place

outside of the bodyoutside of the body

InternalInternalInternal ConflictInternal Conflict takes place takes place

inside of the body/mindinside of the body/mind

External External

There are There are fourfour types of types of external conflictexternal conflict

ExternalExternal

Person vs. PersonPerson vs. PersonThe most straightforward type ofThe most straightforward type of conflict pits the conflict pits the

protagonist( good guy or hero) directly against protagonist( good guy or hero) directly against another character(antagonist- bad guy) another character(antagonist- bad guy) with with

apparently opposing aims. apparently opposing aims.

ExternalExternal

Person vs. NaturePerson vs. NatureThis type of conflictThis type of conflict pits a story's main character pits a story's main character

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

ExternalExternal

Person vs. societyPerson vs. societyIn many stories, theIn many stories, the protagonist battles an unjust protagonist battles an unjust

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

ExternalExternal

Person vs. TechnologyPerson vs. TechnologyThis type of conflict is when aThis type of conflict is when a character in character in

literature has a conflict with some type of literature has a conflict with some type of technology.technology.

InternalInternal

There is There is oneone type of type of internal conflictinternal conflict

InternalInternalPerson vs. SelfPerson vs. Self

Some literary conflicts take the form of aSome 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 picturesfollowing pictures

1. Person vs. ?1. Person vs. ?

2. Person vs. ?2. Person vs. ?

3. Person vs. ?3. Person vs. ?

4. Person vs. 4. Person vs.

5. Person vs. ?5. Person vs. ?

6. Person vs. ?6. Person vs. ?

7. Person vs. ?7. Person vs. ?

8. Person vs. ?8. Person 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. Person vs. ?9. Person 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. Person vs. ?10. Person 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 Person . vs. ?11 Person . 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. Person vs. ?12. Person 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 Person . vs. ?13 Person . 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 Person vs. ?14 Person 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. Person vs. ?15. Person 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.

16. Person vs.16. Person vs.

I have tried several times to email the I have tried several times to email the presentation to you but something is going presentation to you but something is going wrong. wrong.

Independent PracticeIndependent PracticeYou will be given a number 1-5. You will be given a number 1-5. 1- Person vs. Person1- Person vs. Person2.2.Person vs. NaturePerson vs. Nature3.3.Person vs. SocietyPerson vs. Society4.4.Person vs. SelfPerson vs. Self5.5.Person vs. TechnologyPerson vs. TechnologyYou are to write a paragraph that includes the type of conflict You are to write a paragraph that includes the type of conflict assigned to you. For ex. If you were 1, then you must write a assigned to you. For ex. If you were 1, then you must write a paragraph that includes a person vs. person conflict.paragraph that includes a person vs. person conflict. See example on next slide:See example on next slide:If you do not finish, it is homework.If you do not finish, it is homework.

Person vs. PersonPerson vs. PersonMy husband and I were planning a night out to My husband and I were planning a night out to dinner. We were vey excited to get away from the dinner. We were vey excited to get away from the house for a few hours. As soon as we got in the car, house for a few hours. As soon as we got in the car, he said he wanted Cheddars. I had just had he said he wanted Cheddars. I had just had Cheddars for lunch and wanted Logan’s. He was Cheddars for lunch and wanted Logan’s. He was adamant that Logan’s would not be a good choice. adamant that Logan’s would not be a good choice. We went back and forth for 15 minutes and could We went back and forth for 15 minutes and could not agree. He got upset that I would not not agree. He got upset that I would not compromise with him. Unfortunately, we ended up compromise with him. Unfortunately, we ended up not even speaking as he turned the car around and not even speaking as he turned the car around and returned home. We did not get to have our night returned home. We did not get to have our night out to dinner. out to dinner.

Closure:Closure: We will view the Hunger Games video again.We will view the Hunger Games video again. Identify as any types of conflict you can find.Identify as any types of conflict you can find.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FovFG3N_RSU