​CONFLICT

THE ROLE OF CONFLICT IN STRUCTURE

Conflict is tension between competing values either within a character, known as internal or psychological conflict, or with outside forces that obstruct a character in some way, known as external conflict.

​QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

• How might a conflict represent opposing motivations or values?

• How might a conflict arise from a contrast?

• What is the relationship of a particular conflict to other conflicts?

• How does the resolution or continuation of a conflict affect a character, plot, narrator, speaker, etc.?

• How does a conflict contribute to meaning in the whole work?

​Internal conflicts can directly cause external conflicts.

Complete the chart on your paper with examples of internal conflicts that cause external conflicts. The first one has been done for you.

​WHY ARE CONFLICTS IMPORTANT?

• Internal conflicts, and especially how they are resolved, point the reader to a central or controlling idea in the text.

• External conflicts often arise from tensions with other characters who have different values. Consider what values are being highlighted and what statement the author is making about society through those values.

• Think of conflicts as a road into character development and controlling ideas.

​Primary Versus Secondary Conflicts

A primary conflict can be heightened by the presence of additional conflicts that intersect with it.

• Secondary Conflict: minor events and ideas occurring in a story; conflicts that may impact the primary conflict but are not as important.

• Primary Conflict: generally the conflict raised at the start of a story and resolved at the end; the overarching problem

​Answer the 3 questions on your handout.

​QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

• What is the relationship of a particular conflict to other conflicts?

• How do secondary conflicts highlight primary conflicts?

• How does the resolution or continuation of a conflict affect a character, plot, narrator, speaker, etc.?

• How does the resolution or continuation of a conflict affect a reader's experience with the text?

• How does a conflict contribute to meaning in the whole work?