Six Types of Literary Conflicts
Every great story needs conflict! These six types of conflict create the tension that keeps you turning pages or glued to the screen. Let's explore each type and see where you might recognize them.
Character vs. Self involves internal struggles where characters question their decisions or battle their own emotions. You've probably seen this in stories like "The Hulk," where Bruce Banner struggles to control his transformation, or in coming-of-age films like "Thirteen."
Character vs. Character is when two characters directly oppose each other. Think of the rivalry in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" or the multiverse battles in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." These conflicts create exciting confrontations that test characters' strengths and weaknesses.
Character vs. Society occurs when a character challenges larger social systems. In "The Hunger Games," Katniss confronts an oppressive government, while in "Divergent," the protagonist questions her society's rigid faction system.
Fun Fact: Many of your favorite stories use multiple types of conflict at once! A character might be fighting against both a villain (Character vs. Character) while also struggling with their own fears (Character vs. Self).
Character vs. Nature pits characters against environmental forces like storms, animals, or wilderness. Examples include survival tales like "Tsunami" or over-the-top adventures like "Sharknado" and "Cocaine Bear."
Character vs. Supernatural involves struggles against forces beyond scientific explanation. Horror and fantasy stories like "Demon Slayer," "Incantation," and "Annihilation" feature this type of conflict, where characters face mysterious or magical threats.
Character vs. Technology explores how characters deal with technological advancement. Classic examples include "Terminator" and "Robocop," where humans confront artificial intelligence, or "Big Hero 6," which examines our relationship with robots.
Understanding these conflict types can help you better analyze stories and even improve your own storytelling. Next time you watch a movie or read a book, try identifying which conflicts are driving the plot forward!