Conflict
• Definition: A struggle between opposing
forces.
• Conflict is the problem in the story.
• There are two main kinds of conflict in literature:
external and internal.
Importance of Conflict
•Necessary for the plot of a story.
•Adds excitement and suspense.
•A reader can learn from how the
characters deal with conflict in a story.
Types of conflict
Man vs. Man
• External
– Ex = out
• One character is having a problem/conflict with another
another character
• Mental or Physical
Man vs. Man Examples
• Two small boys fight over who will get the last
popsicle
• A boss fires her employee
Man vs. Man Shared Reading Example
• Your Turn!
• Write one example of a man vs. man conflict from “The
Scholarship Jacket”
Shared Reading Examples
”Scholarship Jacket” Example
Man vs. Nature
• External
• One character is having a problem/conflict with nature that is
beyond his or her control
Man vs. Nature Example
1. A family is stranded in a snowstorm
2. A man is trapped in quicksand
Man vs. Nature Shared Reading Example
• Your Turn!
• Come up with your own example of a person who is having a
problem or conflict with nature. (Can be from a book or a real
world example)
Man vs. Society
• External
• A character having a problem/conflict with the rules or laws that
govern the society he or she lives in
Man vs. Society Example
1. A driver is in a hurry and runs a red light
2. A teenager breaks his town’s curfew
Man vs. Society Shared Reading Example
• Your Turn!
• Now write one example of a Man vs. Society conflict from
“Knots in my Yo-Yo String”
Shared Reading Examples
”Knots in my Yo-Yo String” Example:
Man vs. Technology
• External
• A character having a problem/conflict with technology
Man vs. Technology Example
1. A robot turning on people
2. A GPS giving the wrong directions.
Man vs. Technology Shared Reading Example
• Your Turn!
• Come up with your own example of a person who is having a
problem or conflict with technology. (Can be from a book or a
real world example)
Internal Conflict
Man vs. Self
• A struggle within a character’s mind
• In = in (or not)
• Inside (can’t see it)
• Usually a decision
Internal Conflict
Man vs. Self Examples
1. A teacher knows she shouldn’t drink coffee, but she keeps
drinking it every day
2. A student can’t decide if he wants to try out for the basketball
team
Internal Conflict
Shared Reading Example
• Your Turn:
• Now write one example of an internal conflict from “Seventh
Grade” in the box that says shared reading example
Shared Reading Examples
Seventh Grade Example:
Central Conflict
• The main problem in a story
• Can be internal or external
Central Conflict Examples
1. Harry tries to defeat Voldemort
2. Batman wants to stop Bane from destroying Gotham
Central Conflict Shared Reading Examples
• Your Turn!
• Choose any of our Shared Reading stories and identify the
Central Conflict
Shared Reading Examples
Any Shared Example: