This document defines and distinguishes between internal and external conflict in literature. Internal conflict involves a character's internal struggle between thoughts, feelings, and emotions. External conflict involves a character struggling against an outside force, such as another character (man vs. man), nature or the environment (man vs. nature), or society (man vs. society). The document provides examples and self-check questions to illustrate these different types of conflict.

2. By the end of this lesson, you will beBy the end of this lesson, you will be
able to:able to:
Identify Conflict as it appears in literature.Identify Conflict as it appears in literature.
Distinguish between Internal and ExternalDistinguish between Internal and External
conflict, and their sub categories.conflict, and their sub categories.

3. Types of ConflictTypes of Conflict
Internal ConflictInternal Conflict -Man vs. Self-Man vs. Self
ExternalExternal Conflict-Conflict-
– Man vs. ManMan vs. Man
– Man vs. Environment or NatureMan vs. Environment or Nature
– Man vs. SocietyMan vs. Society

4. Internal ConflictInternal Conflict
Definition:Definition:
A struggle that takes place in a character's mind isA struggle that takes place in a character's mind is
called internal conflict.called internal conflict.

5. Internal Conflict is …Internal Conflict is …
NOT a visual or tangibleNOT a visual or tangible
opposition.opposition.
A character dealing with hisA character dealing with his
or her own mixed feelings oror her own mixed feelings or
emotions.emotions.

6. Example of Internal ConflictExample of Internal Conflict
A character may have to decide between rightA character may have to decide between right
and wrong or between two solutions to aand wrong or between two solutions to a
problem.problem.
Ex: The Loisel’s in “The Necklace” try to decideEx: The Loisel’s in “The Necklace” try to decide
what to do; they wrestled with the decision towhat to do; they wrestled with the decision to
replace the necklace.replace the necklace.

7. Internal ConflictInternal Conflict
SubcategorySubcategory
Man vs. SelfMan vs. Self
Internal conflict isInternal conflict is
often referred to asoften referred to as
man vs. self becauseman vs. self because
the struggle is insidethe struggle is inside
one’s head.one’s head.

8. Internal Conflict Self-CheckInternal Conflict Self-Check
Question 1:Question 1:
Internal conflict is NOT:Internal conflict is NOT:
a.a. visiblevisible
b.b. difficultdifficult
c.c. seriousserious

9. Internal Conflict Self-CheckInternal Conflict Self-Check
Question 2:Question 2:
Internal conflict is often referred to as:Internal conflict is often referred to as:
a.a. man vs. manman vs. man
b.b. man vs. himselfman vs. himself
c.c. man vs. external forcesman vs. external forces

10. External ConflictExternal Conflict
Definition:Definition:
A struggle between a character and anA struggle between a character and an
outside force is an external conflict.outside force is an external conflict.

11. Example of External ConflictExample of External Conflict
Characters may face several types of outsideCharacters may face several types of outside
forces.forces.
The outside force may be another character. ItThe outside force may be another character. It
may be the character and/or his or hermay be the character and/or his or her
community (society).community (society).
The outside force may also beThe outside force may also be forces of natureforces of nature
or environment.or environment. For example, a story might beFor example, a story might be
the main character struggling against the arcticthe main character struggling against the arctic
cold.cold.

12. External ConflictExternal Conflict
SubcategoriesSubcategories
Man vs. ManMan vs. Man
Man vs. Environment or NatureMan vs. Environment or Nature
Man vs. SocietyMan vs. Society

13. Man vs. ManMan vs. Man
This is mostly seen in the form of twoThis is mostly seen in the form of two
characters against each other.characters against each other.
It does not have to be a physicalIt does not have to be a physical
confrontation; it can be a battle betweenconfrontation; it can be a battle between
two ideas.two ideas.

14. Man vs. Man ExamplesMan vs. Man Examples
Rainsford vs. ZaroffRainsford vs. Zaroff
Fortunato vs. MontresorFortunato vs. Montresor
Harry Potter vs. Lord VoldemortHarry Potter vs. Lord Voldemort

15. Man vs. Environment or NatureMan vs. Environment or Nature
Environment is defined as anythingEnvironment is defined as anything
surrounding a person.surrounding a person.
This can include weather, objects,This can include weather, objects,
activities.activities.
Basically anything external EXCEPTBasically anything external EXCEPT
people.people.

16. Man vs. Community or Society
In societies and communities there are a
set of laws and rules that man must abide
by.
Some of these rules are enforced by laws
and some are social rules that are a code
of behavior.
Man must follow these rules and laws in
order to avoid conflict within his or her own
community.

17. External Conflict Self-CheckExternal Conflict Self-Check
Question 1:Question 1:
Which is NOT an example of externalWhich is NOT an example of external
conflict?conflict?
a.a. other charactersother characters
b.b. forces of natureforces of nature
c. decisionsc. decisions

18. External Conflict Self-CheckExternal Conflict Self-Check
Question 2:Question 2:
One subcategory of external conflict is:One subcategory of external conflict is:
a.a. man vs. manman vs. man
b.b. man vs. himselfman vs. himself
c.c. man vs. literatureman vs. literature

19. External Conflict Self-CheckExternal Conflict Self-Check
Question 3:Question 3:
Rainsford being stuck in quicksand is anRainsford being stuck in quicksand is an
example of:example of:
a.a. man vs. mudman vs. mud
b.b. man vs. environmentman vs. environment
c.c. man vs. supernaturalman vs. supernatural

20. External Conflict Self-CheckExternal Conflict Self-Check
Question 4:Question 4:
A conflict cannot be categorized as manA conflict cannot be categorized as man
vs. man when:vs. man when:
a.a. the struggle is with more than 1the struggle is with more than 1
character.character.
b.b. there is a physical confrontation.there is a physical confrontation.
c.c. the opposition is not human.the opposition is not human.

21. Quick ReviewQuick Review
•Internal ConflictInternal Conflict
•MAN VS. HIMSELFMAN VS. HIMSELF
*not tangible*not tangible
*in the mind*in the mind
*decisions, feelings, emotions, thoughts*decisions, feelings, emotions, thoughts

22. Quick ReviewQuick Review
• External ConflictsExternal Conflicts
MAN VS. MANMAN VS. MAN MAN VS. NATUREMAN VS. NATURE
*other characters*other characters *any outside force*any outside force
*not just physical confrontation*not just physical confrontation *anything in surroundings*anything in surroundings
*opposing ideas *weather, objects, activities*opposing ideas *weather, objects, activities
MAN VS. SOCIETYMAN VS. SOCIETY
*rules/codes of conduct that man must follow/obey*rules/codes of conduct that man must follow/obey
*includes laws and social expectations within community*includes laws and social expectations within community

23. Quiz TimeQuiz Time
1. Jim and Mac1. Jim and Mac
disagreed aboutdisagreed about
where they shouldwhere they should
take the dog theytake the dog they
found.found.
A.) internalA.) internal
B.) externalB.) external
C.) bothC.) both
2. Carley struggled2. Carley struggled
to walk throughto walk through
the hot, blowingthe hot, blowing
sandsand..
A.) internalA.) internal
B.) externalB.) external
C.) bothC.) both

24. Quiz TimeQuiz Time
3.3. Sarah couldn'tSarah couldn't
decide what to dodecide what to do
that night. Shouldthat night. Should
she study orshe study or
should she go out?should she go out?
A.) internalA.) internal
B.) externalB.) external
C.) bothC.) both
4.4. In the high winds,In the high winds,
the crew wasthe crew was
barely able to keepbarely able to keep
the ship from tiltingthe ship from tilting
sidewayssideways..
A.) internalA.) internal
B.) externalB.) external
C.) bothC.) both

25. Quiz TimeQuiz Time
5.5. Hector thought,Hector thought,
"Why did I ever"Why did I ever
agree to be in thisagree to be in this
play? I'll neverplay? I'll never
have the nerve tohave the nerve to
act in front of anact in front of an
audience."audience."
A.) internalA.) internal
B.) externalB.) external
C.) bothC.) both
6. After Mary's brother6. After Mary's brother
teased her aboutteased her about
being afraid, shebeing afraid, she
decided to climb thedecided to climb the
cliff. Now she stood atcliff. Now she stood at
the foot of the cliff,the foot of the cliff,
wishing she couldwishing she could
figure out a way tofigure out a way to
back out.back out.
A.) internalA.) internal
B.) externalB.) external
C.) bothC.) both

26. 7.7. Kim knew that theKim knew that the
whole class waswhole class was
angry with her forangry with her for
reminding thereminding the
teacher about theteacher about the
assignment. At theassignment. At the
time, she knew shetime, she knew she
was doing the rightwas doing the right
thing. Now she’sthing. Now she’s
not sure.not sure.
A. internalA. internal
B.) externalB.) external
C.) bothC.) both
8.8. The snarling dogThe snarling dog
placed himselfplaced himself
between hisbetween his
master and themaster and the
angry stranger.angry stranger.
A.) internalA.) internal
B.) externalB.) external
c.) bothc.) both

27. 10.10. Violet wanted herViolet wanted her
friends to let the newfriends to let the new
girl join the club, but nogirl join the club, but no
one else agreed. Violetone else agreed. Violet
felt badly for the newfelt badly for the new
girl, but she didn'tgirl, but she didn't
know what to do aboutknow what to do about
the problem.the problem.
A.) internalA.) internal
B.) externalB.) external
C.) bothC.) both
9.9. All the wayAll the way
home, Jeffrey felthome, Jeffrey felt
angry with himself.angry with himself.
"Why couldn't he"Why couldn't he
open his mouth atopen his mouth at
a party? Why wasa party? Why was
he always so shy?"he always so shy?"
A.) internalA.) internal
B.) externalB.) external
C.) bothC.) both