Types of Conflict | ENGLISH 7 || MATATAG Curriculum LESSON | QUARTER 2| LESSON 1 - Week 2

Summary

This video explains the essential role of conflict in storytelling, highlighting both internal and external conflicts that drive narratives. It explores six main types of literary conflict: Character vs. Himself, Character vs. Character, Character vs. Nature, Character vs. Supernatural, Character vs. Technology, and Character vs. Society. Through examples from well-known stories like *The Hunger Games*, *The Wizard of Oz*, and *To Kill a Mockingbird*, the video demonstrates how conflict shapes characters, motivations, and the progression of the plot. Understanding these conflicts deepens the analysis of literary works and enhances storytelling appreciation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Conflict is a crucial element in literature, driving the narrative and revealing deeper meanings.
• 😀 All conflicts in literature fall into two main categories: internal and external.
• 😀 Internal conflict occurs within a character's mind or heart, often involving moral dilemmas or emotional struggles.
• 😀 External conflict sets a character against something beyond their control, such as nature, society, or another character.
• 😀 There are six main types of literary conflict: character versus himself, character versus character, character versus nature, character versus supernatural, character versus technology, and character versus society.
• 😀 'Character versus himself' is an internal conflict where the protagonist battles inner demons or moral choices, like Hamlet or Katniss Everdeen in *The Hunger Games*.
• 😀 'Character versus character' is a classic external conflict, often portrayed as good versus evil, like Katniss Everdeen versus other contestants in *The Hunger Games* or Dorothy versus the Wicked Witch in *The Wizard of Oz*.
• 😀 'Character versus nature' involves the protagonist battling forces of nature, such as in *The Old Man and the Sea* where Santiago faces sharks and bad luck.
• 😀 'Character versus supernatural' pits characters against otherworldly forces like ghosts, gods, or vampires, as seen in stories like *Harry Potter* or *Percy Jackson*.
• 😀 'Character versus technology' explores conflicts where characters struggle with uncontrollable or overwhelming technological forces, as depicted in *Frankenstein* or *2001: A Space Odyssey*.
• 😀 'Character versus society' is a conflict where the protagonist opposes societal norms or structures, as seen in *To Kill a Mockingbird* with Atticus Finch or in *The Lottery* by Shirley Jackson.

Q & A

What are the two main categories of conflict in literature?

The two main categories of conflict in literature are internal conflict and external conflict. Internal conflict occurs within the character, while external conflict involves struggles with outside forces.

How does internal conflict affect a character in a narrative?

Internal conflict affects a character by creating emotional turmoil or moral dilemmas. It can lead to significant character development as the character struggles to resolve personal issues, often impacting the direction of the story.

Can you explain the concept of character vs. character conflict with an example?

Character vs. character conflict involves a protagonist facing off against an antagonist, often in a good vs. evil scenario. For example, in *The Hunger Games*, Katniss Everdeen faces other contestants in a deadly competition.

What is the essence of a character vs. nature conflict?

In a character vs. nature conflict, the character struggles against natural forces such as the environment, animals, or natural disasters. An example is *The Old Man and the Sea*, where Santiago battles both the fish and the sharks.

How does character vs. supernatural conflict elevate a story?

Character vs. supernatural conflict introduces high stakes by pitting characters against forces beyond human understanding, such as ghosts, gods, or monsters. This creates an unequal playing field and can significantly heighten the tension in a story.

What are some examples of character vs. technology conflict?

Examples of character vs. technology conflict include *2001: A Space Odyssey*, where the character fights against an artificial intelligence, or *I, Robot*, which explores conflicts between humans and robots in a futuristic setting.

What type of conflict is represented in *To Kill a Mockingbird*?

In *To Kill a Mockingbird*, the main conflict is character vs. society, where Atticus Finch stands against the racist norms and values of his community while defending an innocent man in court.

Why is conflict important in driving a narrative forward?

Conflict is crucial because it creates tension, challenges characters, and forces them to make decisions that drive the plot. It often reveals deeper meanings, motivations, and weaknesses in characters.

What is the role of character development in conflicts?

Character development is shaped by the conflict they face, as it challenges their beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses. Through conflict, characters often grow, change, or achieve greater understanding of themselves or their world.

Can a story have more than one type of conflict?

Yes, many stories feature multiple types of conflict, though one type may be the primary focus. For example, *The Hunger Games* includes character vs. character conflict, character vs. nature, and elements of character vs. society.