1. Character vs. Character
Conflict notes:
Character vs. Character
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Self
Character vs. God/Fate

2. Conflict
Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict there is NO plot!

3. Character vs. Character Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character human or not human.
“The new one is the most beautiful of all; he is so young and pretty.” And the old swans bowed their heads before him.
Then he felt quite ashamed, and hid his head under his wing; for he did not know what to do, he was so happy, and yet not at all proud. He had been persecuted and despised for his ugliness, and now he heard them say he was the most beautiful of all birds.
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson

4. Character vs. Nature Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.
It’s a Truffula Seed.
It’s the last one of all!
You’re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.
And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.
Give it clean water. ANd feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.
Then the Lorax
and all of his friends
may come back
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

5. Character vs. Society Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.
“I’m tired of living in a hole,” said Jenny. “Let’s fight for freedom!” cried Bouncer. “We’ll be soldiers! Rough-riding Rowdies! I’ll be general and commander-in-chief!”
The Island of the Skog by Steven Kellogg

6. Character vs. Self Conflict
This type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict.
Finally, Sam’s father said, “Go to bed now. But before you go to sleep, Sam, tell yourself the difference between REAL and MOONSHINE.”
Sam, Bangs, & Moonshine by Evaline Ness

7. Character vs. Fate/God Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with a greater being such as gods or fate.
EX: Odysseus from the Odyssey faces many obstacles from gods that he must overcome in order to get home.

8. Harrison Bergeron
By Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

9. As we read “Harrison Bergeron” mark the following:
Significant events
Character descriptions
Figurative Language
Words you don’t understand
Anything confusing
Different types of conflict
You should have 15 annotations!!
noun: bird-shot
the smallest size of shot for shotguns.

10. Conflict
On your paper list all of the conflicts you found.
Label each one as character vs. character/self/society/nature
Write how each conflict was or wasn’t resolved.

11. With a Partner:
Divide the story into a series of chunks. (Look for places with changes in plot, setting, or changes in characters.) You need a minimum of 3 chunks!!
Groups with end up with different chunks of text by that is ok! (but be ready to share/defend!)
Fill in the plot diagram and decide where your significant events you marked fall on the plot diagram.

12. Independent
Use your chunking and your plot diagram to do the following:
Write a retelling of what happened in “Harrison Bergeron” Retellings should help someone understand what happened without reading the story. Retellings use quotes important to the story. Retellings do NOT have opinions or interpretations.

13. In the Response Section of your Notebook:
Answer this question using evidence from the story: When Hazel sees how tired George is, she suggests that he alter his handicap by making a little hole in the bottom of the bag. Why is Hazel, an average person with no handicap to make her “normal,” more ready to consider breaking the law than a smart person like George? Write your opinion for 10 minutes. Find EVIDENCE!

14. Mini Group Discussion
Take all of your work with “Harrison Bergeron” and your copy of the story and join your group. Take notes so that you have ideas when you go back to write again.
As a group discuss the following
Share what each person thought to the interpretive question and your retellings.
How is Hazel similar to the people in District 12.
How is George similar to the people in the wealthier districts?

15. Defend Your Position
After annotating, thinking about, and discussion “Harrison Bergeron” you are going to take a stance and defend your position. Question: Why does Kurt Vonnegut have the Handicapper General defeat Harrison? How does this contribute to the story’s themes?
You need:
A Controlling Statement (thesis) Kurt Vonneget has Harrison defeated because ___________ which adds to the story’s theme of ________.
Textual evidence (quotes/parenthetical documentation)
Paragraphs/topic sentences that support the thesis!