Conflict, & Theme Conflict and Theme- how conflict and character aid in discovering theme

Conflict Types: External Conflict Internal Conflict …a character struggles with an outside force Internal Conflict …takes place within the character’s own mind

Conflict Types: Person vs. Self …always internal conflict Character struggles with a moral dilemma, worry, fear, etc. Person vs. Person … always external conflict Character struggles with an opposing person (both are aware they are in conflict)

Conflict Types: Person vs. Environment Character struggles against his/her surroundings Person vs. Technology Character struggles against something man made Not just computers!

Conflict Types: Person vs. Society Character struggles against a group, majority, or the “norm”

THEME: The general idea of insight or truth about life that a work of literature reveals.

Theme vs. Subject Theme is not the same as subject! (love, childhood, death, family, innocence, greed) The idea or message that the writer wishes to convey about that subject What is the story trying to reveal/say about love, childhood, death, greed, etc.?

Stated Theme vs. Implied Theme Directly stated Child’s story or parable Song lyrics Implied Theme Not stated directly Think about all elements of the work and use them to make an inference about what the themes are

How to pinpoint conflict and theme: 1. What does the protagonist want? 2. What force or person is standing in the way? Label that force person, society, environment, self, technology, etc. 3. What lesson could the protagonist have used OR use going forward to better avoid or make peace with this conflict?

The Landlady – Conflict & Theme 1. What does the protagonist (Billy Weaver) want? 2. What is standing in his way? 3. What could he have done to avoid this? Or, if you had to give him advice about how to conduct himself in future, similar situations, what would it be?