Personal ConflictThink about a time you were involved in a conflict:

• Who was involved in the conflict? What is their relationship to you?

• What was the conflict about? • What did you do/say during the conflict? • What did the other person do/say during the conflict? • How did you feel at the beginning of the conflict?• How did you feel at the end of the conflict? • Was the conflict resolved? How?

In a minimum one-page journal entry, answer any or all of the above questions.

What is Conflict?• A struggle between two opposing forces • Involves the protagonist and antagonist

Four Major Types of Conflict1. Person versus Nature (external)

a. A character must overcome some natural obstacle or condition

b. Floods, snowstorms, insects, plague, famine, or animals

2. Person versus Person (external)a. A struggle between two peopleb. Not always openly hostile (i.e.,

psychological conflict, a battle of wits, etc.)

Four Major Types of Conflict3. Person versus Society (external)

a. A character is at odds with a particular social force or condition produced by society

b. Poverty, political revolution, a social convention, or set of values

4. Person versus Self (internal) a. A character struggles with facets within themselvesb. May be emotional, intellectual, or moral c. Such conflicts typically leave the character

indecisive and agitated

Identify

Example: Alexa caught her friend Jamie stealing from a

classmate. Now Alexa must choose between keeping her friendship with Jamie and doing the right thing.

Answer

Person versus Self

Identify

Example: Alex and Scott are out at sea on a small fishing boat when a large storm hits. After their boat flips over and sinks during the storm, Alex and Scott struggle to make it back to the shore. Just when they think that things can’t get any worse, they see a shark fin circling them.

Answer

Person versus nature

Identify

Example: Vanessa makes an art project protesting police brutality. Her art teacher loves the project and tries to feature it in the town art show, but the county commission rejects the project. Now Vanessa, her art teacher are going to fight for the freedom of expression.

Answer

Person versus society

Identify

Jimmy and Eric compete for the same position on the baseball team.

Answer

Person versus person

Conflict in “The Necklace”Internal Conflict External Conflict

Write

Think of a conflict and describe it in detail. Write it so that it can be applied to any character. Think about…

What? When? Where? Why?