Types of Conflict
What conflict deals with a force (storm, earthquake, drought, etc) that causes the problem ?
DAILY DOUBLE
IF YOU ANSWERED CORRECTLY, YOU GET DOUBLE THE POINTS
Character vs. Nature
Read the passage:
"James was her golden child, who always followed the rules and had never gotten into trouble at school or at home. He was so honest that he once confessed to accidentally leaving the back door open and allowing their dog, Huckleberry, to escape, knowing full-well that he would be grounded for two weeks for that mistake! Trevor, the family superstar... always seemed to be getting himself into trouble. None of his new toys stayed new for long – they always ended up broken within hours of being opened. He rarely listened to his parents or followed the rules in school."
This passage most correctly shows which theme?
A: Good deeds are always rewarded.
B: When you show people a certain pattern of behavior, they tend to expect that of you.
B: When you show people a certain pattern of behavior, they tend to expect that of you.
What conflict matches this scenario:
A mad scientist makes a robot but takes his invention too far. The robot originally meant to show the wonders of science begins terrorizing the town and takes control of all its people.
Character vs Technology
Ms. McEnroe finding out that one of her sons broke her most prized vase is an example of what conflict?
character vs character
True or False:
An example of a theme could be "friendship" or "jealousy"
False!
What conflict deals with a character who does not fit in/ struggles with their community or world
Character vs Society
Read the passage:
"Can you give me a boat?”
“Cut down my trunk and make a boat,” said the tree.
“Then you can sail away and be happy.”
And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away. And the tree was happy.
…But not really.
________________________________________
The passage accurately shows which theme:
A: Out of all things you can cherish in life, friendship is one of the most important and is always worth it.
B: Just because a loved one will do anything for you doesn't mean you should take advantage of that.
C: True happiness can only be found from giving freely of yourself for others.
B: Just because a loved one will do anything for you doesn't mean you should take advantage of that.
What conflict matches this scenario:
Jason has moved to a new school in a new city, and he's having trouble. The school bully got ahold of his phone number and has been texting him threatening messages. He says he's going to jump Jason after school if Jason doesn't agree to do all his homework for the month.
Character vs Character
Cinderella running away from the ball because the spell on her dress and carriage ends at midnight is an example of what conflict?
Character vs supernatural
True or False:
The following is a good example of a THEME:
Anansi the spider learns that knowledge is important only if it is shared with others.
FALSE!
Themes should be universal! You shouldn't ever mention a character directly in a theme.
Provide two different examples of character vs supernatural conflict
Up to teacher discretion
Read the passage:
"And it occurs to me, watching how smoothly he climbs hand over hand and remembering how he looked running with his arms down to his side and with the wind pulling his mouth back and his teeth showing and all, it occurred to me that Raymond would make a very fine runner. Doesn’t he always keep up with me on my trots? ...And I’m smiling to beat the band cause if I’ve lost this race, or if me and Gretchen tied, or even if I’ve won, I can always retire as a runner and begin a whole new career as a coach with Raymond as my champion."
________________________________________
What theme is displayed in the passage?
A: Sometimes, it is important to sacrifice your happiness or your dreams for the dreams of others.
B: Winning is never as satisfying as knowing that you gave something your all.
C: You should never underestimate someone for their differences because they might surprise you.
DAILY DOUBLE
IF ANSWERED CORRECTLY, YOU GET DOUBLE THE POINTS
C: You should never underestimate someone for their differences because they might surprise you.
What conflict matches this scenario:
Sabrina tries so hard in her math class but still seems to fall short when it comes to her grades. She has studied and studied for the upcoming test, but she knows it probably still won't get her a passing grade. When her friend comes to her and says she found the test answers on the teacher's desk and took a picture, Sabrina wonders if she should take the answers. Just this once. She knows it's wrong, but what if no one finds out?
Character vs self
The little mermaid wishing she could be human when she is a mermaid is an example of what conflict?
Character vs self
True or False:
A story can only have one central conflict in it.
False
Many stories deal with layered, complex conflicts that sometimes overlap or impact each other.
Sometimes, character vs character and character vs society can be confusing to students.
Explain the difference between the two
Character vs character means the protagonist is fighting against ONE other person.
Character vs society means the protagonist is singled out in their greater community...by the collective
Read the passage, and come up with your own example of a theme:
That was when she finally told us that she was working as a checkout clerk in the A&P. She was supposed to be on the day shift, but the other employees were unreliable, and her boss had promised her a promotion if she would stay until the evening shift filled in.
For a moment no one said anything. Even Mona seemed to find the revelation disappointing.
“A promotion already!” she said, finally.
I listened to the windshield wipers.
“You’re so quiet.” My mother looked at me in the rear view mirror. “What’s the matter?”
“I wish you would quit,” I said after a moment.
She sighed. “The Chinese have a saying: one beam cannot hold the roof up.”
“But Eugenie Roberts’s father supports their family.”
She sighed once more. “Eugenie Roberts’s father is Eugenie Roberts’s father,” she said.
Up to teacher discretion
What TWO conflicts are found in this passage:
Tinseltown hasn't had a bad storm in 30 years, so it would be Luke's luck that a tornado-- his worst phobia-- hurdles into town on the weekend his parents finally felt he was old enough to stay home alone. Luke is just about the run to his basement to wait out the terror when he hears his dog, Chessy, is still leashed to the kennel outside. He can see the tornado whirling closer, but if he leaves Chessy, she'll be a goner. Oh god, what should he do?
Character vs Nature
Character vs Self
When Andrew experiences the second grade sniffles only inside his classroom and is not believed by any of his classmates, teachers, or administrators, this is an example of what conflict?
Make this incorrectly written theme better:
A theme from "The Giving Tree" is that the boy should give back to the tree, whom he loves, in order to make sure the friendship is not one-sided.
DAILY DOUBLE
IF YOU ANSWERED CORRECTLY, YOU GET DOUBLE THE POINTS
People should give back in the friendships they cherish to make sure the relationship is not one-sided.
Name four types of character conflict
Character vs Self
Character vs Character
Character vs Nature
Character vs Society
Character vs Supernatural
Character vs Technology
Read the passage, and come up with your own example of a theme:
“Okay, my dear,” he smiled genially, “and don’t worry about your poor, abused little burglar. No one is going to get hurt who hasn’t got it coming to him.” As she went down the path he started to close the closet door; then paused as he remembered his hunting boots drying outside on the porch. They belonged in the closet, so leaving the door open he went to fetch them from the heavy, rustic table on which they stood...
...Judson, reaching for his boots, stepped fairly upon the acorn, his foot slid from under him and his head struck the massive table as he fell.
Several minutes later he began to regain his senses. Alec’s strong arm was supporting his head as he lay on the porch ...
A small whiskey glass was pressed to his lips.
Dazed and half-conscious, he drank.
Up to teacher discretion
What TWO conflicts are found in this passage:
Casius, a soldier on the night's watch, knows his village is being haunted by a strange, evil presence. He's seen it lurking in the night, large and waif-like and sickly, and in the morning, some people on the outskirts of the village have gone missing. Casius knows this haunted creature is to blame. So, he goes to the council to try and explain what he's seeing on his watch-- explain the unexplainable. The council is shocked by his claims, so shocked that they call him insane and threaten to remove him from his post. Now, people in town are telling rumors about how Casius himself might be to blame for the disappearances. They haven't stopped because the creature is still on the loose. Casius knows he should find a way to expose the creature-- even if it makes his village hate him for trying.
Character vs Society
Character vs Supernatural
The three little pigs can be confusing to some students when it comes to conflict. Some students think it is character vs supernatural because of the wolf is a creature with a very uncanny talent to huff and puff. This is NOT the main conflict. Can you explain why?
The conflict is character vs character.
A character vs supernatural conflict happens when a human faces a monster or other otherworldly force. The pigs are not humans because this is a fairytale. Therefore, the conflict they face against the wolf is simply one character against another.
Make this incorrectly written theme better:
The White Umbrella teaches the reader that the narrator needed to love her mother and her Chinese life more than loving the idea of being "the perfect American girl."
The White Umbrella teaches the reader that people should value their family and their own identities instead of changing to fit someone else's mold.