2. External vs. InternalExternal vs. Internal
ExternalExternal
External Conflict takes placeExternal Conflict takes place
outside of the bodyoutside of the body
InternalInternal
Internal Conflict takes placeInternal Conflict takes place
inside of the body/mindinside of the body/mind
4. ExternalExternal
Man vs. ManMan vs. Man
The most straightforward type of conflict pits theThe most straightforward type of conflict pits the
protagonist directly against another characterprotagonist directly against another character
with apparently opposing aims.with apparently opposing aims.
5. ExternalExternal
Man vs. NatureMan vs. Nature
This type of conflict pits a story's main characterThis type of conflict pits a story's main character
or characters against a natural force such as aor characters against a natural force such as a
flood, predatory animal, or disease epidemic.flood, predatory animal, or disease epidemic.
6. ExternalExternal
Man Against SocietyMan Against Society
In many stories, the protagonist battles an unjustIn many stories, the protagonist battles an unjust
element of government or culture.element of government or culture.
9. InternalInternal
Man vs. SelfMan vs. Self
Some literary conflicts take the form of aSome literary conflicts take the form of a
character struggling to overcome fear,character struggling to overcome fear,
addiction, emotional damage or other cripplingaddiction, emotional damage or other crippling
personal issue.personal issue.
10. PracticePractice
Decide what type of conflict isDecide what type of conflict is
being illustrated in thebeing illustrated in the
following picturesfollowing pictures
19. PracticePractice
Now that you have masteredNow that you have mastered
pictures, letpictures, let’s try some text!’s try some text!
20. 9. Man vs. ?9. Man vs. ?
““If she had only proceeded more slowly.If she had only proceeded more slowly.
If she had only taken the Southerly route,If she had only taken the Southerly route,
avoiding the icebergs. If only the watchavoiding the icebergs. If only the watch
had had a pair of binoculars.had had a pair of binoculars.””
(news story about the Titanic)(news story about the Titanic)
21. 10. Man vs. ?10. Man vs. ?
Charles decided to break all the rules theCharles decided to break all the rules the
day he decided to steal that car. He wasday he decided to steal that car. He was
immediately arrested and sent to jail toimmediately arrested and sent to jail to
await his trial. He should have knownawait his trial. He should have known
better than to mess with thebetter than to mess with the “rules.”“rules.”
22. 11. Man vs. ?11. Man vs. ?
““I don’t care who you talkI don’t care who you talk
to!” screamed Sarah toto!” screamed Sarah to
West. “I just wish I hadWest. “I just wish I had
never met you!”never met you!”
23. 12. Man vs. ?12. Man vs. ?
After lowering himself into the damp andAfter lowering himself into the damp and
dark cave Tom began to reprimanddark cave Tom began to reprimand
himself for not having replaced hishimself for not having replaced his
flashlight batteries. Tomflashlight batteries. Tom’s terror slowly’s terror slowly
began to take over as the light aroundbegan to take over as the light around
him grew dimmer and dimmer andhim grew dimmer and dimmer and
dimmer.dimmer.
24. 13. Man vs. ?13. Man vs. ?
After the light in the cave wasAfter the light in the cave was
completely gone Tom began tocompletely gone Tom began to
stumble through the cave blindlystumble through the cave blindly
cutting his hands on whatcutting his hands on what
appeared to be sharp rocks.appeared to be sharp rocks.
25. 14. Man vs. ?14. Man vs. ?
Tom found a dry spot to sit down inTom found a dry spot to sit down in
the dark and began to obsess overthe dark and began to obsess over
an argument he had had earlieran argument he had had earlier
in the day with his mother inin the day with his mother in
which he had said,which he had said, “I hope I“I hope I
never see you again!”never see you again!”
26. 15. Man vs. ?15. Man vs. ?
TomTom’s mother was upset that he wanted to’s mother was upset that he wanted to
skip going to college in order to goskip going to college in order to go
spelunking in all of the world’s greatestspelunking in all of the world’s greatest
caves before he turned thirty. Tom didn’tcaves before he turned thirty. Tom didn’t
understand the big deal, he didn’t reallyunderstand the big deal, he didn’t really
believe in structured “learning” anyway.believe in structured “learning” anyway.
