Conflict.
Definition: Conflict is the struggle which grows out of the interplay of the two opposing forces in a plot. At least one of the opposing forces is usually a person. This person, usually the protagonist, may be involved in various types of conflict.
Definition: Conflict is the struggle which grows out of the interplay of the two opposing forces in a plot. At least one of the opposing forces is usually a person. This person, usually the protagonist, may be involved in various types of conflict.
Man v. Self
A person’s struggle with his or her own doubts, biases or flaws. |
Man v. Man
A character against another character in opposition. This often refers to the protagonist and the antagonist. |
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Man v. Society
A character's struggle against society because of personal convictions, morals, traditions, law, or castes. |
Man v. Nature
A character's struggle against any force of nature or representation of it. This could include weather, landmarks, distance or natural disasters. |
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Man v. Fate
A character faces a supernatural force, or higher power. |
Man v. Technology
A character's struggle against any technological event, entity, or growing industry. This often results in a struggle for power. |
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Lesson One:
1. Think/Watch: What is the driving purpose of conflict in a story? Do you think a story fully propels if there is only internal conflict? How so?
1. Think/Watch: What is the driving purpose of conflict in a story? Do you think a story fully propels if there is only internal conflict? How so?
2. Talk about it: Is this an internal or external conflict? How would the trajectory of the movie change if it were the opposite type of conflict?
3. You try it: Choose two of the following and finish the scenario based on the specified conflict:
- When Akiko decided to take up wrestling, she
had difficulty finding an instructor who would help her. Until now all the
wrestlers had been boys, and…
- When Oliver found the shoe department, there
was only one pair of size 13 sneakers left on the sale rack. As he reached out
to grab them, so did another person, a man with metal teeth that appeared to be
8 feet tall. The sneakers were tied together with their laces. “Excuse me,”
said Oliver, holding tight to one of the sneakers…
External Conflict with Another Character:___________________________________________
- Tabitha wasn’t sure what to do. She had already committed to visiting her 97 year old grandfather, when her best friend won tickets to a concert for the same night...
Internal Conflict:______________________________________________________________
Lesson Two:
1. Think: Look at the picture below and decide what type of conflict this might represent. Write your response and signal when you have an answer.
1. Think: Look at the picture below and decide what type of conflict this might represent. Write your response and signal when you have an answer.
2. Talk: How would you justify the representation of conflict between man v. society in this picture? Discuss with a partner. Share your answer from part one with a partner and describe why you chose that type of conflict.
3. Now you try: Write a 2-3 sentence caption to illustrate a conflict of man v. self in this photo. Now caption a man v. society conflict.
3. Now you try: Write a 2-3 sentence caption to illustrate a conflict of man v. self in this photo. Now caption a man v. society conflict.
Lesson Three:
1. Read/Think: Read the following excerpt by William Sleator. Examine the type of interaction between Martin and his Father. Infer the type of relationship between Martin and his father.
“What am I going to do with you, Martin?” his father said. He sighed and shook his head. “Honestly, now you’re afraid of some poor old lady.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“You’re afraid,” said his father, with total assurance. “When are you going to grow up and act like a man? Are you going to be timid all your life?”
He managed not to cry until he got to his room—but his father probably knew he was crying anyway. He slept very little.
2. Talk: Predict what motive is behind the Father's questioning techniques? Which type of conflict might this reveal? Does this scenario reveal more than one type of conflict? Validate your reasoning.
3. Now you try: Justify the father's behavior by writing 3-5 sentences about the father's background to reveal a man v. man conflict between the father and another character other than Martin.
1. Read/Think: Read the following excerpt by William Sleator. Examine the type of interaction between Martin and his Father. Infer the type of relationship between Martin and his father.
“What am I going to do with you, Martin?” his father said. He sighed and shook his head. “Honestly, now you’re afraid of some poor old lady.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“You’re afraid,” said his father, with total assurance. “When are you going to grow up and act like a man? Are you going to be timid all your life?”
He managed not to cry until he got to his room—but his father probably knew he was crying anyway. He slept very little.
2. Talk: Predict what motive is behind the Father's questioning techniques? Which type of conflict might this reveal? Does this scenario reveal more than one type of conflict? Validate your reasoning.
3. Now you try: Justify the father's behavior by writing 3-5 sentences about the father's background to reveal a man v. man conflict between the father and another character other than Martin.