Conflict KWL What we want to learn!

Why are we learning about conflict?  #1 is because the school ’ s curriculum states that you will learn it this year.  #2 is to help us find the interesting/engaging parts of a story and in the long run will help you pick books that fit you as a reader — i.e. if you aren ’ t interested in the type of conflict, there is a good chance you won ’ t like the book — I am saving you countless hours of disengaged reading.  #3 You can learn life lessons from stories — learn from a character ’ s mistake instead of making it yourself, etc.  #4 We are learning about conflict to not be left out of the joke! How many of you watch shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, The Office, etc.? In order to find the humor in comedies like theses, you first have to understand the elements of a story — believe it or not, television shows are a form of a story.  AND #5 intelligent conversation will happen around you in your lifetime — this class might help you be a part of that conversation  #1 is because the school ’ s curriculum states that you will learn it this year.  #2 is to help us find the interesting/engaging parts of a story and in the long run will help you pick books that fit you as a reader — i.e. if you aren ’ t interested in the type of conflict, there is a good chance you won ’ t like the book — I am saving you countless hours of disengaged reading.  #3 You can learn life lessons from stories — learn from a character ’ s mistake instead of making it yourself, etc.  #4 We are learning about conflict to not be left out of the joke! How many of you watch shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, The Office, etc.? In order to find the humor in comedies like theses, you first have to understand the elements of a story — believe it or not, television shows are a form of a story.  AND #5 intelligent conversation will happen around you in your lifetime — this class might help you be a part of that conversation

Why should we use the term character instead of person when describing the type of conflict? Characters in a story come in many different forms; they are not always human; therefore we shouldn ’ t assume that our conflict is a person vs., man vs., or human vs. … Think about the stories/novels you have read. What types of characters have you read about? Characters in a story come in many different forms; they are not always human; therefore we shouldn ’ t assume that our conflict is a person vs., man vs., or human vs. … Think about the stories/novels you have read. What types of characters have you read about?

What is the conflict ’ s purpose? It gives the story its energy and makes it interesting. It ’ s normally where the author draws their clues to teach the reader life lessons.

Why does there have to be a conflict? No conflict, no plot. Conflict is the heart of the plot — look at the next slide.

Is there ever a story without a conflict?  No — you be the judge: o Goldilocks goes into the bear ’ s house and eats some porridge before her nap. o Little Red Riding Hood visits her grandma and takes her some bread. o Rumplestiltskin sees her prince outside her window, so she walks downstairs to let him in.

Why does conflict keep a story interesting? Life is full of conflict — it is what keeps our days interesting the same as it does a story. The more drama, the more interest! While looking for answers to these questions, I came across a statement, “ In literature, as in life, [the] kind of conflict between opposing desires or emotions, can be the most interesting of all. ” I like this statement because it reflects the idea that we read to learn about life.

Why doesn ’ t the conflict come in the middle? ACTUALLY, conflict comes all over the story. If you think back to the plot diagram, there is a tall ascending line labeled rising action — this is all chock full of smaller conflicts (sometimes referred to as complications). Normally there is a conflict in the beginning of the story to create a turning point or start to the action of the book — it ’ s not always the main conflict, though.

Can there be more than one conflict in a book/story? Absolutely — think back to the previous answer.

Does the conflict always get solved? No — there are two types of resolutions or ends to a story: open ended and close ended. Open ended stories leave the reader to infer the outcome of the conflict and close ended has a direct resolution to the conflict.

How do we figure out the main conflict? The easiest way is to finish the story first and work backwards. Think about the outcome of the story and where it originated. The main conflict is not always the first conflict of the story. Sometimes we have to infer the big/main conflict. Look for internal conflicts — they are often the most important and teach the best theme.

What are the two conflict categories? / External: meaning the character struggles with an outside force like another character, a storm, or a group.  Internal: a conflict that takes place within the character ’ s mind / External: meaning the character struggles with an outside force like another character, a storm, or a group.  Internal: a conflict that takes place within the character ’ s mind

What are the types of conflict and some examples?

External: Character vs. character  Red Riding Hood vs. the wolf  Grandma vs. the wolf  The wolf vs. the woodsman  Red Riding Hood vs. the wolf  Grandma vs. the wolf  The wolf vs. the woodsman

External: Character vs. group  The Beast vs. the village  New student vs. the popular kids  The Beast vs. the village  New student vs. the popular kids

External: Group vs. group / Democrats vs. Republicans  Think back to social studies and look at wars you ’ ve studied / Penguins vs. humans / Democrats vs. Republicans  Think back to social studies and look at wars you ’ ve studied / Penguins vs. humans

External: Character vs. nature / Polar Bears vs. global warming / Iowans vs. the flood / The human fly vs. gravity / Polar Bears vs. global warming / Iowans vs. the flood / The human fly vs. gravity

Internal: Character vs. self  Makeover shows — the character vs. their insecurities relating to beauty / A kid going to camp or traveling for the first time alone vs. homesickness  Me late at night — do I eat the last piece of chocolate or not? Me vs. decision making.  Makeover shows — the character vs. their insecurities relating to beauty / A kid going to camp or traveling for the first time alone vs. homesickness  Me late at night — do I eat the last piece of chocolate or not? Me vs. decision making.

Why are characters involved? Conflict is defined as a struggle between two opposing characters or forces. Without character, we wouldn ’ t have a story or a conflict. Without conflict we wouldn ’ t have a plot — it is all cyclical, one depends on the other. Reflect back on the five elements of fiction: character, setting, plot, theme, point of view — how is conflict related to all of them?