
The main character
› The story follows his/her life

The person or thing that makes problems
for the protagonist
› Examples: prejudice, anger,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tECaY
Q1AzkM
1. Exposition
• Setting and characters are
introduced
• Protagonist’s life is described

Fight or struggle between two things
› Something keeps the protagonist from living
his normal, happy life
4. Climax
• Conflict is highest
• Excitement is highest
6. Resolution
• Life continues, but
probably in a new
way
• What will the
characters’ lives be
like from now on?
The lesson within a story about life.
Slavery is wrong
 All people have feelings and desires
 We should have sympathy, not bitterness,
toward others


The protagonist struggles with
something around him
Character vs Character
Character vs Nature
Character vs Society
This type of conflict finds the main character in
conflict with another character, human or not human.
“Cinderella’s mother-in-law began to show herself in her true colors. She
could not bear the good qualities of her pretty stepdaughter, so she
employed Cinderella in meanest work of the house: she scoured the dishes,
tables, etc., and kept the whole house clean; she lay upon a wretched straw
bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms, upon beds of the very newest
fashion.
The poor girl bore all patiently and dared not tell her father, who would have
rattled her off; for his wife governed him entirely. When she had done her
work she used to go into the chimney-corner and sit down among cinders
and ashes, which made her commonly be called a cinder maid; but the
youngest, who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest, called her
Cinderella.”
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict
with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.
It´s a Truffula Seed.
It´s the last one of all!
You´re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.
And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.
Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.
Then the Lorax
and all of his friends
may come back.
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
This type of conflict has the main character in conflict
with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.
“I’m tired of living in a hole,” said Jenny.
“Let’s fight for freedom!” cried Bouncer. “We’ll be soldiers!
Rough-riding Rowdies! I’ll be the general and
commander-in-chief!”
The Island of the Skog by Steven Kellogg
The protagonist struggles with
something inside himself
 Examples:

› A dilemma
› Angry feelings
› Overpowering memories
Conflict is the dramatic struggle
between two forces in a story.
Without conflict, there is no plot.
In this type of conflict, the main character experiences
some kind of inner conflict.
Finally, Sam’s father said, “Go to bed now. But before you
go to sleep, Sam, tell yourself the difference between REAL
and MOONSHINE.”
Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness

NOT a visual or tangible
opposition.

a character dealing with his
or her own mixed feelings or
emotions.