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

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

3. 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)

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

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

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

7. 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.?

8. 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

9. 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?

10. 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?