1. J. Kroesch
9/19/2018
Conflict!

2. What is Conflict?
Conflict is the tension in the story that drives the narrative
Creates tension
Gives characters problems to solve
Begins in RISING ACTION
Continues until CLIMAX (POINT OF MOST CONFLICT)
Resolves in FALLING ACTION

3. Why is Conflict important?
Without conflict, there is no story
Examples:
Titanic without conflict: The boat goes across the ocean and gets to New York. Rose has some nice meals. Jack gets to dance with the poor people.
Harry Potter w/o conflict: A boy goes to wizard school, graduates, and marries his friend’s sister.

4. Important Term: Protagonist
The protagonist is the main character of the story. (Who the story is about)
It is not necessarily the POINT OF VIEW character.
Some stories are really about another character even though they aren’t the center of every scene
Example: Star Wars (the main 6 movies) is about Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, even though he’s a villain for half
Also not necessarily a “good” character
Some stories tell the tale of a non-heroic or anti-heroic character

5. Important Term: Antagonist
The person/people/or force that is directly opposed to the protagonist
Can be thinking or non-thinking
Multiple antagonists can exist in a story
Sometimes, there will be many lesser antagonists as well as a main, larger antagonist

6. Types of Conflict (Skip Writing)
External
Person vs. Person
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Society
Person vs. Supernatural
Person vs. Technology (Machine)
Person vs. Fate
Internal
Person vs. Self

7. External: Person VS. Person
Most classic type of conflict
Protagonist vs. Antagonist
“Good Guy” vs. “Bad Guy”
Can be physical or mental challenge

8. External: Person VS. Nature
Struggling against natural elements
Animals
Natural disasters
The weather
Opposition is typically without leadership or direction
Goal of character is usually simple survival

9. External: Person VS. Society
Character struggles against a group or culture they live in
Struggle includes traditions or rules that the character disagrees with
Used to make comments about negative parts of a real society by EXAGERATING them

10. External: Person VS. Supernatural
Character is against some force with powers beyond their own
Magic/Ghosts/Monsters/Aliens/ETC…
Character usually must discover HOW to fight the conflict before it can be resolved

11. External: Person VS. Technology (Machine)
Character is challenged by superior forces of the changing world
Usually found in science fiction
Characters must adapt to technology to win

12. External: Person VS. Fate
Character struggles against a pre-determined destiny
These stories typically have a two step conclusion
Step 1: Understand Fate
Step 2: Fight against it
Common in Greek Tragedies

13. Internal: Person VS. Self
Character struggles with parts of his/her own mind
Can be MORAL DILEMMAS without a clear answer or MENTAL CONDITIONS
Stories with PvSelf conflicts are typically written in the first person