Types of Conflict
The struggle between two characters in the story.
What is character vs. character?
The time and place that a story occurs.
What is setting?
The main problem in the story.
What is conflict?
Determine the conflict below, along with the type of conflict. Is it external or internal? Is it character vs. character, character vs. self, character vs. nature, or character vs. society?
Pooh really wants the honey from a beehive but the hive is in Rabbit's tree, in his garden. Rabbit has refused to let him enter his garden for the honey!
What is an external conflict: character vs. character?
The conflict is Pooh not being able to get to some honey because of Rabbit.
The 5 traits of STRAP for indirect characterization.
What are speech, thoughts, reactions, actions, and physical?
The character is struggling with nature or animals.
What is character vs. nature?
The opposing force, the "bad guy".
What is antagonist?
The story comes to a reasonable ending. All the problems have been solved.
What is resolution?
Determine the conflict below, along with the type of conflict. Is it external or internal? Is it character vs. character, character vs. self, character vs. nature, or character vs. society?
Jenna really wants to go to college. She would love to get into Harvard and has to take the S.A.T. to get in, but she struggles in certain subjects. They have classes to take on Saturday mornings, which is the same time that Jenna is scheduled to work.
What is internal conflict: character vs. self?
The conflict is Jenna has to decide how to make it to the S.A.T. classes and work at the same time.
An example of this STRAP trait is when Billy screams at his mother and calls her dumb.
What is a speech?
The character is struggling with his/her feelings or decisions.
What is character vs. self?
The characters, setting, and conflict have been introduced. The beginning of the story.
What is exposition?
The lesson learned in the story.
What is theme?
Determine the conflict below, along with the type of conflict. Is it external or internal? Is it character vs. character, character vs. self, character vs. nature, or character vs. society?
Timothy likes to skateboard. There is no skate park in his town but there is an awesome sidewalk and parking lot area in a little strip mall by his house that he can use. The owners of the stores do not like skateboarders and have told them all they cannot skateboard in their area. Timothy doesn't want to give up because it is the best spot in the area!
What is external conflict: character vs. society?
The conflict is as Timothy can't skateboard because of the store owners.
An example of this STRAP trait is when Sonya throws her arms around her little sister to protect her from the swarm of bees.
What is actions?
The character is struggling with a group in their community.
What is character vs. society?
All of the loose ends of the plot have been tied up. The conflict is ending and being solved, which leads to the resolution.
What are falling actions?
The sequence of events that make up the whole story.
What is plot?
Determine the conflict below, along with the type of conflict. Is it external or internal? Is it character vs. character, character vs. self, character vs. nature, or character vs. society?
Josie is going to a basketball game that she has been waiting all year for and it starts to storm horribly. She is on a dark road and the rain is coming down so fast she is having a hard time seeing and controlling the car.
What is an external conflict: character vs. nature?
The conflict is Josie has to make it safely through the storm.
An example of this STRAP trait is when Phil believes he is not smart so he does not volunteer in class.
What is thoughts?
Little Jimmy wants a piece of candy but his mom said no. He sees another girl with a piece of candy at school. He tries to take it from her, but she will not let him take it! This is an example of a conflict, either External or Internal.
What is external conflict?
The turning point in the story that makes a change.
What is climax?
The conflict begins to develop through events that become more suspenseful.
What are rising actions?
Determine the conflict below, along with the type of conflict. Is it external or internal? Is it character vs. character, character vs. self, character vs. nature, or character vs. society?
Andy and Jessie are going to the high school dance and they are going with a group of friends. Their friend Nancy is not having fun and she wants to go home. No one else does but they all took the same car.
What is external conflict: character vs. society?
The conflict is Nancy wants to do something different than her friend group, which is causing Andy and Jessie to not be able to do what they all want.
An example of this STRAP trait is when Russell walks down the hallway and many students wave at him and smile, while others try to get his attention by calling his name.
What is reactions?