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Oct 18, 2024 · What are conflict types in literature? A literary conflict is a struggle between two opposing forces, usually between the protagonist and an internal or external force, that drives the narrative forward. Various conflict types in literature illustrate the main issue and create a compelling plot or storyline for the reader.
- What Is Conflict in Literature?
- Internal and External Conflict in Narrative
- The 7 Main Types of Conflict in Literature
In most stories, characters have goals they want to achieve. If they reach them quickly and easily, the story would be over in just a few pages. Conflict is what stands in their way, making the narrative compelling. Will Joe win Jane’s heart? Will Mike find justice after being wrongly imprisoned for murder? There should be challenges along the way....
Most narrative conflicts you'll encounter are external. For example, a protagonist might battle their rival, endure a harsh environment, or survive a zombie apocalypse. Internal conflict, on the other hand, revolves around the struggles within their mind — for example, grappling with a moral dilemma, making a life-altering decision, or facing a per...
1. Man vs. Man
Pesky people: they cause trouble wherever they go! That’s the crux of this type of external conflict, which you’ll find in many, if not most, stories. "Man versus man" can mean both black-and-white struggles (cops vs. robber, hero vs. villain, etc.), but it can also cover subtler kinds of personal confrontations: romantic entanglements and familial disputes, for example. Man vs. man conflict is commonly rendered as the traditional “protagonist vs. antagonist” setup, where these two central ch...
2. Man vs. Society
Particularly prevalent in fiction these days, this type of external struggle pits the individual against the collective. In this case, “the collective” might take the form of something like: 1. an oppressive government, 2. adults (as seen from a teenager’s perspective), or 3. systemic corruption. In this type of conflict, society will put pressure on our character to change and fall neatly into order. On the other hand, our protagonist will resist this change and, in extreme cases, will try t...
3. Man vs. Nature
How do you fancy your chances in a fight against Mother Earth? In this type of conflict, that is exactly what our protagonists are facing. Whether it’s wildlife (Jaws), natural disasters (The Day After Tomorrow), the weather (The Perfect Storm), or a post-apocalyptic landscape (The Road), the antagonists in this type of conflict cannot be reasoned with. Stories that feature a “man vs. nature” conflict will usually center on a character’s survival. In the absence of a human antagonist, our her...
Sep 30, 2021 · In literature, a conflict is a literary device characterized by a struggle between two opposing forces. Conflict provides crucial tension in any story and is used to drive the narrative forward. It is often used to reveal a deeper meaning in a narrative while highlighting characters’ motivations, values, and weaknesses.
- Person vs. Person. Also called man vs. man and protagonist vs. antagonist, this is the most common type of external conflict. It is clear and universally understood as a good vs. evil story in which an unambiguous challenger opposes the main character.
- Person vs. Nature. This type of conflict counters a character against some force of nature, such as an animal or the weather. A classic example is Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea.
- Person vs. Society. When a novel sets a character against a tradition, an institution, a law, or some other societal construct, it is a Person vs. Society story.
- Person vs. Technology. When science moves beyond human control, conflicts of Person vs. Technology develop. Stories in this conflict type include: 2001: A Space Odyssey.
- Character vs. Self /Addictions. In this type of conflict, the character comes into conflict with his/her own self. This could be the difference of nature, or self-contradiction or even addiction when the character in question has to go through suffering to forsake that addiction.
- Character vs. The antagonist or Other Characters. This conflict is the ancient conflict in which a protagonist and an antagonist come into conflict with each other, representing evil and good.
- Character vs. Nature / Natural Disaster. Sometimes there is a conflict between man and nature. The main character or other characters find themselves having conflicts with the natural forces such as weather or some other calamity.
- Character vs. Supernatural / Paranormal. This conflict occurs between the main character and the supernatural forces or paranormal creatures such as gods, spirits, ghosts, or heavenly bodies.
Oct 16, 2024 · The seven types of conflict in literature are: Character vs. Character, Character vs. Society, Character vs. Nature, Character vs. Technology, Character vs. Supernatural, Character vs. Fate, and Character vs. Self. Each type pits characters against different forces, whether it’s another person, societal expectations, natural elements, or even ...
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Aug 30, 2023 · Types of Conflict. 1. Man vs Self (Internal Conflict) Man vs self conflict is an internal struggle that a character experiences within themselves. This type of conflict arises when a character’s own actions, beliefs, emotions, or desires are in direct conflict with their moral or ethical values. Often, this struggle involves characters trying ...
