Summary
You might choose to avoid conflict in real life, but in a story, it's essential! The conflict is a challenge faced by the protagonist. It drives the action of the plot, escalating to the climax, before getting resolved in the end. An internal conflict, also known as "person versus self," is a struggle that happens inside of a character. An external conflict happens outside of the character. The "person versus person" type involves the protagonist and another character. The "person versus nature" kind pits the protagonist against an animal or force of nature. And in a "person versus society" conflict, a character opposes a larger group. Stories often include more than one conflict: The protagonists in both <i>The Hunger Games</i> and <i>Hatchet</i> contend with multiple conflicts. Conflict is one of several story elements that work together to communicate the theme, and give us insight into our experiences and the world around us. Press "play" to learn about the conflicts facing Nat, Tim, Rita, Cassie, and Moby. Will anyone find closure?
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Story Conflict:
- What is one new thing you learned about story conflict?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining story conflict.
- Draw or give one example of your own.