Conflict in Literature Internal Conflict Man vs. Self: an argument or decision-making process within one character's mind. External Conflict Man vs. Man: The most straightforward type of conflict pits the protagonist directly against another character with apparently opposing aims. Man vs. Society: In many stories, the protagonist battles an unjust element of government or culture. Man vs. Nature: This type of conflict pits a story's main character or characters against a natural force such as a flood, predatory animal, or disease epidemic. Man vs. Supernatural: This type of conflict deals with a man battling against a non human such as a animal or god