CONFLICT TYPES

INTERNAL CONFLICT A struggle that takes place in a character's mind is called internal conflict. For example, a character may have to decide between right and wrong or between two solutions to a problem.

INTERNAL CONFLICT Sometimes, a character must deal with his or her own mixed feelings or emotions.

INTERNAL CONFLICT Man vs. self Character is “fighting” with himself or herself.

EXTERNAL CONFLICT A struggle between a character and an outside force is an external conflict. Characters may face several types of outside forces. The outside force may be another character, group, nature or technology.

EXTERNAL CONFLICT Man vs. Man The most common form of external conflict is man vs. man. Many protagonists must face down an antagonist that stands in the way. The conflict could physical, emotional or mental standoff between characters

EXTERNAL CONFLICT Man vs. Group/Society main character (or characters) thinks differently from society or has different concepts than what most people think. Martin Luther King Jr. is a real life example.

EXTERNAL CONFLICT Man vs. Nature literature relies on the force of natural disasters to thwart the protagonist. This form of external conflict could involve floods, fires, storms, or severe winds.

EXTERNAL CONFLICT Man vs. Technology/machine Common within science fiction or dystopian literature, man finds his enemy within machines. Technology goes out of control, evolving past man's control over it. This type of external conflict presents a worst-case scenario of a world dominated by its own inventions.

Test Yourself You're skiing with a friend, not really paying attention to where you're going. Suddenly you find yourself atop a double black diamond icy slope — straight down! You've never skied anything like this before! Internal Conflict External Conflict

Test Yourself External Conflict

Test Yourself Your mom is driving you and your friends to a big game in another town. You left in plenty of time, but she seems to have lost her way. It's getting late and there's no sign of the gym. You think you saw a sign for the Sports Center a few blocks back. You have a hard time telling your mom about the sign. Internal Conflict External Conflict

Test Yourself Internal Conflict

Test Yourself At a party you spent a lot of time talking to a friend from your math class — just chatting. His girlfriend, however, has spread rumors around school that you're trying to take him away from her. Internal Conflict External Conflict

Test Yourself External Conflict

Test Yourself You're taking a shortcut through the woods to your cousin's house — with your five-year-old sister in tow. She scratches her leg on a bush and whines, then it begins to rain very hard. You want to make a run for it, but your sister refuses to budge. You've never seen it rain like this before, and you've never been in this part of the woods. Internal Conflict External Conflict

Test Yourself External Conflict