Conflict
The idea that directs the plot;
the whole point of the plot is
to solve the conflict
Conflict
Protagonist vs. Antagonist
Man vs. Man - another character(s)
Man vs. Supernatural/Fate- uncontrollable
Man vs. Society- expect. of the society
Man vs. Nature- forces of nature
Man vs. Technology- anything man made
Man vs. Self- causes own problems
Internal- any problem that requires a decision on the part of the
character
Man vs. Self- character causes his own problems
Man vs. Society- character must choose whether to fight or
succumb
Man vs. Man- character must choose whether to fight or
succumb
Man vs. Nature- character must choose whether to fight or
succumb
Man vs. Supernatural/fate- character must choose
whether to fight or succumb
Man vs. Technology- character must choose whether to fight
or succumb
External- any problem that forces a problem from an outside
source
Man vs. Society- the expectations of society are pitted against
the desire of the character’s will? Who wins?
Man vs. Man- character must choose how to handle a problem
with another individual/group of individuals
Man vs. Nature- the protagonist is pitted against a force of
nature
Man vs. Technology- the protagonist must struggle against a
force created by itself
Man vs. Supernatural/fate- the protagonist must struggle
against an intangible force(s)
Conflicts pit the protagonist against the antagonist.
The plot is the series of events that bring the conflict to a climax
and then resolve it.
Not every protagonist is good. Not every antagonist is bad.
The author deliberately chooses whether to develop a bad
character as the protagonist or whether to follow a good character
through his/her struggle.
Look deeper . . .
You are more than what you
have become.
Fight
with
friends
A war
Legal
battle
over
property
a fight for ownership
A race to uncover the
truth
Abusive situation
A
game
A moral
dilemma
A decision about the
future
deciding
who to
trust
indecision
Determining the best way to
fix a broken situation
insecurity
a confusing situation
A hurricane
Surviving an animal
attack
Cold or
heat
A tornado
Surviving when stranded
time is running out
fighting against the urban jungle
Success is
making a lot
of money
Good grades = good
person
Tall is
attractive
Adult
expectations
Beauty is looking like a model
Measure of success
trying to find acceptance by being yourself
questioning one’s faith
Why me?
coincidences
If only I would have . . .
“10 seconds earlier”
It was just meant to be . . .
the too-human
computer
Pandora’s
Box
Easier = Better
science experiment gone bad
vaccines that mutate
=
Example 1:
Conflict
Rich young woman struggling against her morality
man vs. self conflict
Example 2:
A scientist of the future whose experiment sets off WWIII
man vs. technology conflict
Example 3:
Two children lost in the woods
man vs. nature conflict
Example 4:
A decision whether to go to college to make parents happy
or begin working with a friend to make yourself happy
man vs. self conflict