1. Conflict and Mood & Tone
Ms. Holmes
English II

2. Conflict Conflict is created when the main character wants something.
When something else gets in the protagonist’s way, a conflict arises.
All stories contain conflict.
Conflict

3. Types of Conflict

4. Internal Conflict There is one specific type of internal conflict:
Man vs. Self
Internal Conflict

5. "Man vs. Self" is the only true version of internal conflict you will find in literature.
In this mode, the conflict takes place within the mind of the main character, and often involves the character making a decision between right and wrong, or other mixed emotions.
However, this struggle could also exist in the form of a character battling mental illness.
Man vs. Self

6. External Conflict There are five types of external conflict:
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Society
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Technology
Man vs. Fate/Supernatural
External Conflict

7. "Man vs. Man" is probably the most common form of external conflict.
This mode lies at the heart of all dramatic arts and places the struggle directly between the protagonist and the antagonist -- otherwise known as the good guy and the bad guy.
In a man vs. man conflict, the protagonist wants something, and the antagonist keeps the protagonist from getting what he wants.
Man vs. Man

8. This mode of external conflict occurs when the protagonist is placed at odds with a government or cultural tradition.
This type of conflict applies to societal norms as well.
For example, if a child gets in trouble with his parents for sneaking out of the house at night, he is in conflict with the societal tradition that children are expected to obey their parents.
Man vs. Society

9. "Man vs. Nature" pits the main character against the forces of nature – in the form of a natural disaster or a dangerous situation.
This hinges on the idea that nature is unconcerned with humanity.
Stephen Crane's short story, "The Open Boat," is a prime example, and demonstrates that the sea can cause shipwrecks easily and without regard for humanity.
Man vs. Nature

10. "Man vs. Technology" can mean that a person is in direct combat with robots, in the context of science fiction, or it could mean simply that technology stands in the way of the protagonist getting what he/she wants.
In the science-fiction version, the same attributes of a man vs. man conflict apply.
Man vs. Technology

11. Man vs. Fate / Supernatural
Man vs. Fate" exists in any story in which the protagonist is struggling against a god or gods.
It is sometimes considered part of "Man vs. Self" when focused on an internal, moral struggle, but should be considered separate in the context of epics -- such as the "Iliad" and "Odyssey," in which the gods are present antagonists.
"Man vs. the Supernatural" falls into a similar standard: If the protagonist is the only one witnessing supernatural acts, it could be considered "Man vs. Self."
However, if it's certain that these supernatural powers are real, then the mode of conflict stands on its own.
Man vs. Fate / Supernatural

12. For each example, identify the type of conflict and the evidence that helped you determine the conflict.
1. Alexa caught her friend Jamie stealing from a classmate. Now Alexa must choose between keeping her friendship with Jamie and doing the right thing.
Type of Conflict ____________________________________________
Evidence _________________________________________________
2. Tara and her friends accept a dare to sleep over in the old abandoned house on the hill. They acted brave at first, but when they started seeing ghosts, they tried to run. Trapped in the haunted house, Tara and her friends struggle to escape with their lives.
Identifying Conflict

13. 3. Vanessa makes an art project protesting animal cruelty
3. Vanessa makes an art project protesting animal cruelty. Her art teacher loves the project and tries to feature it in the town art show, but the county commission rejects the project. Now Vanessa and her art teacher are going to fight for the freedom of expression.
Type of Conflict ____________________________________________
Evidence _________________________________________________
4. Jimmy and Eric compete for the same position on the baseball team.
Identifying Conflict

14. 5. Alex and Scott are out at sea on a small fishing boat when a large storm hits. After their boat flips over and sinks during the storm, Alex and Scott struggle to make it back to the shore. Just when they think that things can’t get any worse, they see a shark fin circling them.
Type of Conflict ____________________________________________
Evidence _________________________________________________
6. Bob is a salesman who never adapted to the new ways of doing business. Now he has a new boss who forces Bob to send text messages and s. Bob struggles to use these technologies and fears that he will lose his job. But maybe some help from his youngest son will help Bob catch up to the pace of business today.
Identifying Conflict

15. Mood and Tone

16. Mood Mood is the general atmosphere created by an author’s words.
It is the feeling the reader gets from reading those words.
It may be the same, or it may change from situation to situation.
Mood
Words That Describe Mood
Fanciful
Frightening
Frustrating
Gloomy
Happy
Joyful
Melancholy
Mysterious
Romantic
Sentimental
Sorrowful
Suspenseful

17. Mood is the emotions that you (the reader) feel while you are reading.
Some literature makes you feel sad, others joyful, still others, angry.
Ex. The main purpose of some poems is to set a mood.
Writers use many devices to create mood, including images, dialogue, setting, and plot.
Often a writer creates a mood at the beginning of the story and continues it to the end. However, sometimes the mood changes because of the plot or changes in characters.
Mood

18. Tone Words That Describe Tone
Tone is the author’s attitude toward the writing (his characters, the situation) and readers.
A work of writing can have more than one tone.
An example of tone could be both serious and humorous.
Tone is set by the setting, choice of words/vocabulary, and other details.
Tone
Words That Describe Tone
Amused
Angry
Cheerful
Horror
Clear
Formal
Gloomy
Humorous
Informal
Ironic
Light
Matter-of-fact
Resigned
Optimistic
Pessimistic
Playful
Pompous
Sad
Serious
Suspicious
Witty

19. Tone is the attitude that an author takes towards the audience, the subject, or the character.
Tone is conveyed through the author’s words and details.
Use context clues to help determine the tone.
In literature, the author sets the tone through words.
The possible tones are boundless as the number of possible emotions a human being can have.
Has anyone ever said to you, ”Don’t use that tone of voice with me?”
Your tone can change the meaning of what you say.
Tone can turn a statement like, “You’re a big help!” into a genuine compliment or a cruel sarcastic remark. It depends on the context of the story.
Tone

20. Identifying Mood and Tone
Foe each example identify the tone, what context clues are used to convey the tone, and the overall mood of the sentence.
1. Bouncing into the room, she lit up the vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as she told about her fiancé and their wedding plans.
Tone _____________________________________________________
Context Clues _____________________________________________
Mood ____________________________________________________
2. She huddled in the corner, clutching her tattered blanket and shaking convulsively, as she feverishly searched the room for the unknown dangers that awaited her.
Identifying Mood and Tone

21. Identifying Mood and Tone
3. Bursting through the door, the flustered mother screamed uncontrollably at the innocent teacher who gave her child an F.
Tone _____________________________________________________
Context Clues _____________________________________________
Mood ____________________________________________________
4. Drawing the attention of his classmates as well as his teacher, the student dared to experiment with his professor’s intelligence by interrogating him about the philosophy of Plato.
Identifying Mood and Tone

22. Identifying Mood and Tone
5. He furtively glanced behind him, for fear of his imagined pursuers, then hurriedly walked on, jumping at the slightest sound, even of a leaf crackling under his own foot.
Tone _____________________________________________________
Context Clues _____________________________________________
Mood ____________________________________________________
6. Gently smiling, the mother tenderly tucked the covers up around the child’s neck and carefully left the room while making sure to leave a comforting ray of light shining through the opened door, should the child wake.
Identifying Mood and Tone