Let’s keep it simple! Conflict = a problem

Two broad types Internal – a conflict that takes place INSIDE a character External – a conflict caused by something OUTSIDE a character

Six specific types Man vs. Self Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Man vs. Nature Man vs. God/the gods/Fate Man vs. Machine

Internal conflict Only one type! Man vs. Self – a character has a conflict with himself Ex 1: Larry can’t decide if he should date Karen or Betty. Ex 2: Larry is super shy and so he has trouble asking a girl out on a date.

Internal conflict Ex 3: Larry had a nightmare and now he can’t go back to sleep. Ex 4: Larry wants to run faster, but his legs will only move as fast as they’re already moving.

Your Example __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________

External conflicts FIVE types! Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Man vs. Nature Man vs. God/the gods/Fate Man vs. Machine

Man vs. Man – a character has a conflict with another character Ex 1: Larry and Karen get into an argument about where to eat. Ex 2: Karen and Betty get into a fist fight over Larry.

Man vs. Man – a character has a conflict with another character Ex 3: Karen hates that Larry is dating Betty, so she spreads rumors that Betty is cheating on Larry. Ex 4: Larry refuses to put the milk back in the fridge, so Betty gets mad at him.

Your Example __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________

Man vs. Society – a character has a conflict with the society as a whole (laws, established authority, schools, etc.) or the most powerful group in a society at any given time

Man vs. Society Ex 1: Larry got caught speeding down the interstate at 106 mph so he went to jail. Ex 2: Karen refuses to follow the dress code, and so she gets sent to safe.

Man vs. Society Ex 3: Barry is a cannibal. Ex 4: Betty protests against a school policy.

Your Example __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________

Man vs. Nature – a character has a conflict with nature – weather, animals, etc. Ex 1: A hurricane sinks a boat with Larry on it. Ex 2: A meteor crashes into Cynthiana and everyone (including Betty) must flee.

Man vs. Nature – a character has a conflict with nature – weather, animals, etc. Ex 3: A bear sneaks into Barry’s campsite and chases him into a pond. Ex 4: Karen’s cats wake her up at 2 a.m.

Your Example __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________

Man vs. God/the gods/fate – a character has a conflict with God, the Greek gods or goddesses, or ‘Fate’

Man vs. God/the gods/fate Ex 1: God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and he didn’t, so God put him in the belly of a whale. Ex 2: Icharus was told by his father, Helios, the Greek sun god, not to fly too close to the sun, but Icharus disobeyed, and so Helios punished him (ultimately plummeting him to his death in the sea).

Man vs. God/the gods/fate Ex 3: Larry gets saved, but then sins and feels guilty for it. Ex 4: Oedipus was fated to sleep with his mother and kill his father. NOTE: FATE WILL RARELY BE AN ANSWER.

Your Example __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________

Man vs. Machine – a character has a conflict with some sort of man-made ‘machine’ – real machinery or things that work as machines (i.e. a window)

Man vs. Machine Ex 1: Karen is frustrated because the window in her room is stuck and it’s too hot. Ex 2: Barry’s car won’t start so he is late to work.

Man vs. Machine Ex 3: Larry’s gun misfires and he shoots his toe off. Ex 4: Betty’s computer won’t save to a disk or print.

Your Example __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________