1. Types of Conflict in Literature

2. Plot: a Review
Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.

3. Plot Components
Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action
Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax
Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax
Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story.
Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict.
Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes.
Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable.
Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point.
Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts
Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

4. Plot: Conflict
Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

5. Review: Characters Protagonist: the central character in the conflict
Antagonist: the force in conflict with the protagonist

6. Man vs. Man Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character, human or not human.

7. Man Vs. Nature Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.

8. Man vs. Society Conflict
This type of conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.

9. Man vs. Self Conflict Also called Internal Conflict
In this type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict.

10. What type of conflict is this an example of?
The thing is, I need to be at my dentist's appointment. If you don't let me turn left onto Cedar, I will be unable to make my appointment. Why are you going the exact same speed as me? I go 30, you go 30. I go 40, you go 40. I do an illegal U-turn, you do an illegal U-turn.
Perhaps if we were all going to the same place, I'd just go with the flow. But I've been going with the flow, trying to get in the left-hand-turn flow, and no one is letting me do it. And you, ma'am, are obviously doing everything you can to prevent me from getting to my personal destination. Hear me when I say this: BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEEP

11. Answer:
Man vs. Man

12. What type of conflict is this an example of?
Hello, dog. You are going to move? Yes, yes, yes? No? I am human, you are canine. We are different, but know this: I will run you over if you don't get out of the street. Dog! Are you trying to bring me to a halt?! How often I forget that I can reconnect myself to the great web of life with just a simple message: BEEEEEEP, BEEEEEEEP.

13. Answer:
Man vs. Nature

14. What type of conflict is this an example of?
The road has three lanes. The SUV is using two of them at any given moment. This raises a question, first raised by Plato in The Republic: What is justice? Specifically, when given a scarce resource (the road), how do you distribute the scarce resource among the potential recipients (the drivers)? This particular SUV is suggesting a reprisal of Thrasymachus's definition of justice: whatever is done by the powerful is what is just. Following Plato, I voice my dissent, by pressing hard on my horn for seven seconds, followed by three quick BEEP, BEEP, BEEPs.

15. Answer:
Man vs. Society

16. What type of conflict is this an example of?
Sweet world, how much I have shared with you! I have withdrawn from you, wearied by my conflicts. I want peace. Will I be able to find it by withdrawing, thinking, eating, and driving?
As I withdraw from the world, I find it difficult to breathe.
One second I am savoring the taste of this BBQ chicken wing while driving, but now so very much of the chicken is stuck between my tonsils and the back part of my tongue. I can't breathe, I can't think clearly, all I can do is slump over as everything becomes very blurry. Thanks for hearing me out— BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP. BEEP. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

17. Answer:
Man vs. Self
Internal Conflict

18. References
All examples from “Models of Conflict in Literature, Which I Think Justify my Beeping the Horn While Driving, Even if my Girlfriend Thinks Not”, by Justin Kahn
Pictures from Academy of Environmental Arts and Sciences Writing and Literature, “Types of Conflict”
Adapted from “Using Picture Books to Teach Plot Development and Conflict Resolution” by Lisa Storm Fink, Read Write Think

19. Your Assignment: You are a news program producer.
In your ENB, create an outline of an imaginary news cast.
There will be at least four stories.
For each story, include a graphic and a headline.
You must have at least one example of each of the four types of conflict.

20. Example: Character vs. Character Conflict Graphic Box Headline/
News Crawl
President Bush responds to personal attacks against his character