Internal and External Conflict

What is conflict? "In literature, a conflict is a literary device characterized by a struggle between two opposing forces. Conflict provides crucial tension in any story and is used to reveal a deeper meaning in a narrative while highlighting characters' motivations, values and weaknesses." (Masterclass.com) Conflict is an important element in the study of stories, novels, plays, movies etc. What are the two categories of conflict? 1. Internal Conflict is when a character struggles with their own opposing desires or beliefs. Internal conflict happens within them and it drives their development as a character. 2. External Conflict sets a character against something or someone beyond their control. External forces stand in the way of a character's motivations and create a tension as the character tries to reach their goals. Including both internal and external conflict is crucial for a good story, because life always includes both. What are the 6 Types of Literary Conflicts? 1. Character vs. Self This is an internal conflict, meaning that the opposition the character faces is coming within. This may entail a struggle to discern what the moral or "right" choice is, or it may also encompass mental health struggles. All other types of conflict are external meaning that a character comes up against an outside force that creates a conflict. 2. Character vs. Character This is a common type of conflict in which one character's needs or wants are at odds with another's. A character conflict can be depicted as a straight-forward fist fight, or as intricate and nuanced as the ongoing struggle for power in the HBO series of Game of Thrones. 3. Character vs. Nature In a nature conflict, a character is set in opposition to nature. This can mean the weather, the wilderness, or a natural disaster. 4. Character vs. Supernatural Pitting characters against phenomena like ghosts, gods, or monsters raises the stakes of a conflict by creating an unequal playing field. Supernatural conflict also covers characters, like Harry Potter or Odysseus, who have a fate or destiny and struggle to accept the sacrifices that come along with it. 5. Character vs. Technology In this case, a character is in conflict with some kind of technology. It is the hallmark of science fiction, which explores the problems that arise when technology grows beyond its intended use. This external conflict illustrates a character in conflict with technology. At its best, character vs. technology conflict raises poignant questions for the characters and readers alike about what it means to be human and sets us apart from machines. 6. Character vs. Society A character vs. society conflict is an external conflict that occurs in literature when the protagonist is placed in opposition with the society, the government, or a cultural tradition or societal norm of some kind. Characters may be motivated to take action against their society by a need to survive, a moral sense of right and wrong, or a desire for happiness, freedom, justice or love. Why is conflict important in a story? Most of the time, readers become more interested in a literary piece because of the tension in the story. Readers are simply hooked in order to discover which of the characters or forces will eventually prevail. Conflict is a necessary element for all stories whether it is a novel, short story, mystery, romance, children's story because it makes the plot interesting and exciting. A conflict in a literary piece also reveals opposing beliefs and truths about life that readers can easily relate to. How are conflicts resolved in a story? In actuality, conflict is not always bad and does not have to result in violence or hurt feelings. Conflicts are part of everyday life and they cannot be avoided. However, whether a conflict escalates, ends negatively or is resolved and ends peacefully in a literary selection, is entirely based on the choices a character/s make. The choices made by a character in a story reveals his/her feelings, values and attitudes. Most often than not, his/her response to a conflict determines how a situation ends.