Hi this presentation is made originally by Gherm6 however I found out that it isn't that comprehensive so I added examples to elaborate the types of conflict.

1. Conflict
in
Literature
Originallyby gherm6(just added
some examples)

2. What is “conflict” in a story?
*problem
*tension
*good vs. evil

3. Why is CONFLICT important?
 Without conflict, there is no plot!
 The plot is created around the conflict…
 The conflict is introduced in rising action…
 Is faced head-on during climax…
 Begins to work itself out during falling
action…
 Is resolved during resolution.

4. EXTERNAL CONFLICT
 An external conflict is between a
character and an outside force.
 Man vs. Man
 Man vs. Nature
 Man vs. Society

5. MAN vs. MAN
 A character struggles with another
character.
 Protagonist vs. Antagonist
 The classic “good guy” vs. “bad guy”
situation
 A character will be opposed by or will
oppose the actions, reactions,
motivations of another character or
characters.

6. For example, in Hamlet, Hamlet is
involved in a conflict with his
uncle, King Claudius, who seeks
to have Hamlet killed.
Example of Man Versus Man Conflict

7. Swami and Friends by R.K.Narayanan.
“Oh wretched idiots!,” the teacher said, clenching
his fists, “Why do you worship dirty, lifeless, wooden
idols and stone images? Can they talk? No. Can
they see? No. Can they take you to heaven? No.
What did your Gods do when Mohammed of Gazni
smashed them to pieces, trod upon them, and
constructed out of them steps for his lavatory?...
Example of Man Versus Man Conflict

8. Now see our Lord Jesus. He could cure the sick,
relieve the poor, and take us to Heaven. He was a
real God. …
Did our Jesus go about dancing with girls like your
Krishna? Did our Jesus go about stealing butter like
that arch-scoundrel Krishna? “
The teacher paused for breath. Swaminathan’s blood
boiled. He got up and asked, “If he did not, why was
he crucified?”

9. MAN vs. NATURE
 A character struggles with a force of
nature (natural disaster, desolation,
animal, etc.)
 Usually, the character is struggling to
survive.

10. The excerpt below is from Life of Pi by Yann Martel
and a great part of the book is set in the middle of
the sea.
The ship sank. It made a sound like a monstrous
metallic burp. Things bubbled at the surface and
then vanished. Everything was screaming: the sea,
the wind, my heart. From the lifeboat I saw
something in the water
Example of Man Versus Nature Conflict

11. I cried, "Richard Parker, is that you? It's so hard to
see. Oh, that this rain would stop! Richard Parker?
Richard Parker? Yes, it is you!"
I could see his head. He was struggling to stay at the
surface of the water.
"Jesus, Mary, Muhammad and Vishnu, how good to
see you, Richard Parker!
Don't give up, please. Come to the lifeboat. Do you
hear this whistle? TREEEEEE! TREEEEEE! TREEEEEE!

12. MAN vs. SOCIETY
 In this conflict, a character or a group of
characters fight against the society in which
they live.
 The character fights against social traditions
or rules (fight for freedom, rights, for a cause
etc.)
 Society becomes a “character” of its own
 Usually used to comment on positive or
negative aspects of real society.

13. The excerpt below is from To Kill a Mockingbird by
Harper Lee. It is the story set in a fictional town in
America at a time when racial discrimination was at
its height.
“Scout,” said Atticus, “nigger lover is just one of
those terms that don’t mean anything. It’s hard to
explain – ignorant, trashy people use it when they
think somebody is favouring Negroes over and
above themselves. ..”

14. “You aren’t really a nigger lover are you?”
“ I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody.
It’s never an insult to be called what somebody
thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor
that person is, it doesn’t hurt you. So don’t let
Mrs. Dubose get you down…”

15. INTERNAL CONFLICT
 An internal conflict is between a
character and his/her self.
 Man vs. Self

16. MAN vs. SELF
 The character’s struggle takes place in
his/her own mind.
 Usually has something to do with a choice
(choosing between right and wrong), or it
may have to do with overcoming
emotions or mixed feelings.

17. The below excerpt from Gora by Tagore is an
example of a momentary internal conflict.
“…as the cab drove away, the girl joined her
hands in a brief namaskar. Utterly unprepared for
this gesture, Binoy remained frozen, unable to
respond. Back home, he repeatedly cursed himself
for this minor lapse.

18. Scrutinizing his own conduct in their
company from their first encounter to the
moment of parting, he felt that his manner
had been rather uncivil. He tormented
himself with futile thoughts of what he
could have said or done at specific
moments.”

19. OTHER TYPES OF CONFLICT
 Man vs. Supernatural
 Gods, ghosts, monsters, spirits, aliens, etc.
 Man vs. Fate
 Fight for choice; fight against destiny
 Man vs. Technology
 Computers, machines, etc.