Good Things… Please get out a piece of notebook paper and get ready to take some notes!

Plot Elements: The Conflict

Review: Plot Components Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story. Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict. Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes. Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable. Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point. Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Review: Types of Characters Protagonist- the main character of the story, usually the hero. (often considered the good guy) Antagonist- a character that the main character struggles against, the opposite force. (often considered the bad guy)

Two types of characters in a story: A dynamic character undergoes a permanent change during a story Much like dynamite will cause something to change by explosion! A static character is one who remains basically unchanged throughout a story. Much like static on a T.V. set will stay the same!

So…what is conflict??? Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

Main Types of Conflict Character vs Character Character vs Nature Character vs Society Character vs Self

Character vs. Machine Vs. Supernatural Bonus: Can you guess some of the lesser know categories of Character vs. ? Character vs. Machine Vs. Supernatural

Plot: Character vs. Character Conflict This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character, human or not human. Examples: https://youtu.be/C-w9CKlzMAg Two girls fight over a boy Luke Skywalker fights his own father, Lord Vader

Plot: Character vs. Nature Conflict This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist. Examples: https://youtu.be/PQzvGSK01eA?list=PLtPF1NQkhomoKFqUTInFUnmMeX7XmraNR An native American must fish and hunt in the extreme cold to feed his family. A young boy survives a plane crash and must survive alone in the woods until he is rescued.

Plot: Character vs. Society Conflict This type of conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc. Examples: https://youtu.be/h0g3_kSG9Zw?list=PLtPF1NQkhomoKFqUTInFUnmMeX7XmraNR A woman refuses to move to the back of the bus because of the color of her skin. A group of students fight the school over dress code.

Plot: Character vs. Self Conflict In this type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict. Examples: https://youtu.be/bKGcR2Cnd9w?list=PLtPF1NQkhomoKFqUTInFUnmMeX7XmraNR A small boy trains to make the football team. A young girl learns to respect herself.

Internal Conflict & External Conflict Finally, there are two categories of Conflict that each of the “vs” falls into… Internal Conflict & External Conflict

Internal Conflict Character vs self is an internal conflict, because it’s “all in the character’s head”

External Conflict All other kinds, such as character vs. character, nature, or society are external, because they are conflicts with outside sources

Let’s practice identifying conflict…

Character vs. Nature

“The new one is the most beautiful of all; he is so young and pretty “The new one is the most beautiful of all; he is so young and pretty.” And the old ducks bowed their heads before him. Then he felt quite ashamed, and hid his head under his wing; for he did not know what to do, he was so happy, and yet not at all proud. He had been persecuted and despised for his ugliness by all of them, and now he heard them say he was the most beautiful of all the birds. The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson Character vs. Society

Character vs. Self

Character vs. Character While Harry Potter was in Hogwarts getting hit by Bludgers and losing his memory, Lord Voldemort was having problems of his own. So far, all of his plans to capture Potter had failed. - Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince by JK Rowling Character vs. Character

Character Vs. Society

Character vs. Nature It´s a Truffula Seed. It´s the last one of all! You´re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds. And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs. Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss Character vs. Nature

Character vs. Character

Character vs. Self Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness Finally, Sam’s father said, “Go to bed now! But before you go to sleep, Sam, you must tell yourself the difference between REAL and your imagination!” Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness Character vs. Self

Character Vs. Supernatural Bonus Question: https://youtu.be/yVX1xItZAOo Character Vs. Supernatural