Elements of Fiction Conflict

The Purpose Why do we like stories? What drives us to turn the page?

The Driving Force Conflict drives the reader to turn the page. It is the most important element of a story You can have a story without symbolism or exposition, but no story can be successful without conflict.

How important is conflict? Other popular mediums rely heavily on conflict. Films, Nonfiction, Journalism, TV, etc. The elements of fiction don’t just cover fictional stories. They actually cover any story intended for entertainment.

Conflict Remains

Resolution Most stories end with a resolution, or the outcome of the action and conflict. It is up to the characters to find a solution to the conflict. You may be able to predict how the characters will solve the conflict based on how they act.

The Cliff Hanger When a conflict doesn’t have a clear outcome, the resolution may not be that effective.

Jumping the Shark When your favorite TV show resolves its main conflict, the writers of the show will stretch to create more conflict. Friends, Happy Days, Lost, etc. Even “the show about nothing” had to have conflict in every episode. Game shows are also an example.

Types of Conflict Internal External Individual vs. Self Individual vs. Individual Individual vs. Society Individual vs. Nature

Individual vs. Self Is a story where the main character has a problem with himself. The problem is internal or in other words, the problem is in his/her head. Doesn’t mean that the external forces can’t have an influence. Can you think of any stories with this conflict?

Individual vs. Individual An Individual vs. Individual conflict can be described as a conflict arising between two or more characters of the same kind. An example of this might be a fist fight between two people. Such as the Protagonist (main character) vs. the Antagonist (villain or someone who’s against the protagonist).

Individual vs Society Individual vs. Society is a literature theme in fiction in which a main character (or characters) thinks differently from society or has different concepts than what most people think.

Individual vs Nature Individual vs. Nature is the theme in literature that places a character against forces of nature. Many disaster films focus on this theme, which is predominate with many survival stories.

Quiz 1. What is the conflict of the following story? Individual vs Individual Individual vs Self Individual vs Society Individual vs Nature

Quiz 2. What is the conflict of the following story? Individual vs Individual Individual vs Self Individual vs Society Individual vs Nature

Quiz 3. What is the conflict of the following story? Individual vs Individual Individual vs Self Individual vs Society Individual vs Nature

Quiz 4. What is the conflict of the following story? Individual vs Individual Individual vs Self Individual vs Society Individual vs Nature

Quiz 5. What is the main driving force behind a story? conflict plot resolution characters

Quiz 6. If the conflict doesn’t have a clear outcome, what might lose its effectiveness? conflict resolution plot characters