Understanding Conflict

1. Understanding Conflict

2. 3.3 Analyze interactions between characters in a literary text by focusing on internal and external conflicts.

3. What is CONFLICT?

4. Conflict means tension between characters

5. A conflict can be. . . a problem a struggle a personal war a clash of ideas

6. Every conflict needs a resolution

7. Without a resolution, bad things tend to happen

8. There are two types of conflict

9. An external conflict is a struggle between a character and an outside force

10. In The Dark Knight, the Joker initiates The Joker an external conflict is the “outside force” that Batman with Batman has to overcome

11. In Star Wars, Darth Vader is the source of the external conflict

12. In movies like 28 Days Later and Resident Evil, zombies are responsible conflict for the external

13. An external conflict is. . . a physical force that keeps the character from achieving his or her goals something the character encounters face to face beyond the character’s control

14. a simple misunderstanding that can be resolved over a cup of coffee An external conflict is NOT. . .

15. For many characters, an external conflict is a matter of life and death

16. What kind of IMPACT do they have on the story? Think about the effects of an external conflict Who do they

17. In The Dark Knight, the Joker inflicts death, doom, and destruction on Gotham City—all effects of the external conflict he creates

18. In the Harry Potter series, Lord Voldemort creates a similar external conflict, whose effects include murder, mayhem, and genuine fear

19. Why is external conflict important?

20. Without external conflict, there is no action no drama no tension no story

21. External conflict is what forces a character to make tough decisions

22. Without external conflict, the protagonist will always be a static character, without an opportunity to change, grow, or discover something new about life

23. There are FIVE external conflicts that are popular in fiction and movies

24. Man vs. man

25. Man vs. society

26. Man vs. nature

27. Man vs. the unknown

28. Man vs. machine

29. Now for INTERNAL conflict

30. An internal conflict is a struggle that takes place in a character’s mind

31. An internalconflict can be. . . a fear a belief a need or desire a personal problem

32. Another one of Batman’s internal conflicts is that he often makes choices that are dangerous and outside the law In The Dark Knight, Batman’s internal conflict is his unwillingness to kill the Joker

33. Internal External conflicts are physical conflicts are psychological

34. An internal conflict is often the RESULT of an external conflict

35. In The Dark Knight, the Joker triggers one of Batman’s biggest internal conflicts: his refusal to disclose his identity as Bruce Wayne.

36. When thinking about a story’s conflict, What happens if the conflict isn’t resolved? What’s at stake for the protagonist? ask yourself these questions:

37. In The Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch is Dorothy’s external conflict. Dorothy’s internal conflict is that she feels as if she doesn’t belong in the Land of Oz. Dorothy resolves her conflicts by killing the witch and by learning that there really is no place like home.

38. Little Red Riding Hood’s internal conflict is that she has mixed feelings about the Big Bad Wolf. Little Red Riding Hood resolves her conflicts by escaping the Big Bad Wolf and by learning that she shouldn’t talk to strangers. Little Red Riding Hood’s external conflict is the Big Bad Wolf.

39. As you read a story. . . identify the main characters look for steps they take to resolve their conflicts decide what conflicts they face see if these steps cause other conflicts

40. An important idea related to conflict is character motivation

41. Motivation is the reason characters behave the way they do—it’s what drives their actions

42. To be motivated means to be moved to do something

43. There are two types of motivation

44. Extrinsic motivation comes from outside Intrinsic motivation comes from within It means doing something because it’s fun It means doing something for an outcome

45. There are different factors that motivate characters

46. In The Dark Knight, REVENGE is what motivates Two-Face

47. In the movie Scarface, three things motivate Tony Montana: power, money, and his desire to move up in the world.

48. A sense of justice and a need to help others is what motivates most superheroes.

49. Antagonists like the Joker use fear and the threat of death or violence to motivate people.

50. Love is a source of motivation for many characters