{"id":4095,"date":"2013-06-27T17:37:39","date_gmt":"2013-06-27T17:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=4095"},"modified":"2026-03-25T12:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T17:35:32","slug":"conflict","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/conflict\/","title":{"rendered":"Conflict in a Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_dW_UfJz_T1E\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_dW_UfJz_T1E\" data-source-videoID=\"dW_UfJz_T1E\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Conflict in a Story Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Conflict in a Story\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_dW_UfJz_T1E:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_dW_UfJz_T1E {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/704-conflict-in-literature-1.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_dW_UfJz_T1E\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_dW_UfJz_T1E\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Conflict in a Story\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_dW_UfJz_T1E\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_dW_UfJz_T1E\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_dW_UfJz_T1E\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction FZN_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"FZN\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"FZN_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"FZN\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Internal_Conflict\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Internal Conflict<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#External_Conflict\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">External Conflict<\/a>\n<ul><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Person_vs_Person\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Person vs. Person<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Person_vs_Nature\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Person vs. Nature<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Person_vs_Fate\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Person vs. Fate<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Person_vs_Society\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Person vs. Society<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Other_Categories\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Other Categories<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Examples_in_Literature\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Examples in Literature<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Conflict in literature is what makes a story interesting. Sure, you have characters, setting, and plot that play into the quality of a story, but you don\u2019t have a story at all if you don\u2019t have conflict.<\/p>\n<p>In literature, conflict is any struggle between opposing forces. Most often, this happens when the main character wants something\u2014to live, to rise above his or her situation, to change society\u2014and something else gets in his or her way.<\/p>\n<p>All conflict in literature is divided into two main types: <strong>internal<\/strong> and <strong>external<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Internal_Conflict\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Internal Conflict<\/h2>\n<p>\nInternal conflict only has one category: <strong>person vs. self<\/strong>. This occurs anytime the protagonist is battling an inner war.<\/p>\n<p>Jack London\u2019s <em>Call of the Wild<\/em>, for example, is a <strong>person<\/strong> (or in this case, dog!) <strong>vs. self<\/strong> conflict between the dog\u2019s wild and domestic nature. Or think of Hamlet\u2019s famous monologue in Shakespeare\u2019s play by the same name: \u201cTo be or not to be\u201d is an example of a character at war with his own fears and desires. <\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"External_Conflict\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>External Conflict<\/h2>\n<p>\nExternal conflict occurs when the <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/characters\/\">main character<\/a> gets swept up in the issues of the world\u2019s woes, such as government, society, community, or nature.<\/p>\n<p>In most cases, external conflict can be divided into four categories\u2014person vs. person, person vs. nature, person vs. fate and person vs. society. There are two more possible categories that have arisen in recent years, but we\u2019ll talk about those later.<\/p>\n<p>First, let\u2019s take a closer look at the main four.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Person_vs_Person\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Person vs. Person<\/h3>\n<p>\nIn person vs. person conflict, the protagonist is opposed by another person.<\/p>\n<p>A well-known example of this appears in Victor Hugo\u2019s <em>Les Miserables<\/em>, when the justice-driven Javert continually thwarts Jean Valjean\u2019s attempts at redemption and mercy. Think also of Alexander Dumas\u2019 <em>The Count of Monte Cristo<\/em>, a classic revenge tale where a wronged man sets out to destroy the people who ruined his life.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Person_vs_Nature\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Person vs. Nature<\/h3>\n<p>\nThe second type of external conflict is person vs. nature. This occurs when the protagonist faces a harsh wilderness, gets struck by lightning, or has to navigate a natural disaster.<\/p>\n<p>An excellent example is Ernest Hemmingway\u2019s <em>The Old Man and the Sea<\/em>, a story about a lone man struggling with a giant marlin in the Gulf Stream.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Person_vs_Fate\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Person vs. Fate<\/h3>\n<p>\nThe third type of external conflict, person vs. fate, is very common in Greek tragedy. This occurs when the main character is trapped by what seems to be an inescapable destiny.<\/p>\n<p>Think of <em>Oedipus Rex<\/em>, a Greek play where Oedipus learns he is fated to marry his mother and kill his father. Oedipus\u2019 attempts to escape this fate only end up bringing it to pass. In person vs. fate literary conflict, freedom and free will take a back seat to the unfolding action. <\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Person_vs_Society\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Person vs. Society<\/h3>\n<p>\nThe last major category of external conflict, person vs. society, occurs when a character struggles against the mores of their culture or government.<\/p>\n<p>Think of Ray Bradbury\u2019s <em>Fahrenheit 451<\/em>, where a fireman required to burn books ends up secretly collecting them instead.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Other_Categories\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Other Categories<\/h3>\n<p>\nRemember those other two <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/literary-genre\/\">categories<\/a> I mentioned earlier? Some argue that <strong>person vs. the unknown<\/strong>and <strong>person vs. machine<\/strong> should also be included in the list.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Person vs. the unknown<\/strong> is an external conflict caused by something outside human understanding, such as aliens, monsters, or the supernatural. Think of H.G. Wells\u2019 <em>War of the Worlds<\/em>, or Stephen King\u2019s <em>The Shining<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Person vs. machine<\/strong> is a theme that places the main character against technology. A classic example of this would be Mary Shelley\u2019s <em>Frankenstein<\/em>, although this conflict is also a common theme in modern science fiction. Think of <em>The Blade Runner<\/em>, <em>The Terminator<\/em>, and <em>2001: A Space Odyssey<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Examples_in_Literature\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Examples in Literature<\/h3>\n<p>\nOften, a work of literature will have multiple conflicts within it. Let\u2019s take a quick look at Herman Melville\u2019s famous novel, <em>Moby Dick<\/em>. There\u2019s a major <strong>person vs. nature<\/strong> conflict between Ahab and the Whale, but there\u2019s also a <strong>person vs. man<\/strong> conflict between Ahab and crew, as well as an element of <strong>person vs. the unknown<\/strong> between Ismael and God.<\/p>\n<p>So remember: there may be many different kinds of conflict in one story, but there has to be at least one example of conflict for any story to exist.<\/p>\n<p>I hope that this video was helpful for you. See you guys next time!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/reading-comprehension\/\">Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99733,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-4095","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-reading-comprehension-videos","7":"page_type-video","8":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4095"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":279352,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4095\/revisions\/279352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}