Conflict

Home > Performing Arts > Creative Writing (performing arts) > Conflict

The tension and struggle between characters, ideas, or values that drives the narrative and creates emotional investment for readers or audiences.

Types of Conflict: Four types of conflict are person versus person, person versus self, person versus nature, and person versus society.
Conflict Resolution: Strategies for resolving conflicts including communication, problem-solving, compromise, and negotiation.
Character Development: Building characters that have their own motives, desires and contradictions which create conflicts in the story.
Emotional Tension: Emotional tension creates suspense and makes the reader invested in the story.
Plotting: Plotting is important to keep the story moving towards the resolution of the conflicts.
Setting: Setting creates atmosphere and enhances the conflict by providing a context for it.
Suspense: Suspense created by conflicts keeps the reader interested in the story.
Dialogue: Dialogue can reveal and intensify conflicts between characters.
Inner Conflict: Inner conflicts within characters make them more interesting and provide opportunities for character growth.
Antagonists: Antagonists provide the conflict in the story and make the protagonists struggle to achieve their goals.
Symbolism: Symbolism can intensify the conflicts by emphasizing the underlying themes.
Resolutions: Resolutions bring an end to the conflicts and bring closure to the story.
Theme: Themes are the underlying messages within the story, arise from the conflicts presented.
Foreshadowing: Foreshadowing hints at future conflicts or resolutions.
Tone: Tone sets the mood for the story, making it easier for the reader to be invested in the conflicts.
Man vs. Self: This is an internal conflict that involves the protagonist grappling with their own thoughts, feelings, or beliefs. It can involve self-doubt, guilt, or a moral dilemma.
Man vs. Man: This is an external conflict that involves the protagonist facing off against another character, typically an antagonist. It can involve physical or verbal confrontations, competition, or struggles for power.
Man vs. Nature: This is an external conflict that involves the protagonist struggling against natural forces, such as weather, animals, or disease. It can involve survival or environmental issues.
Man vs. Society: This is an external conflict that involves the protagonist fighting against cultural or societal norms, beliefs, or regulations. It can involve injustice, oppression, or discrimination.
Man vs. Technology: This is an external conflict that involves the protagonist facing off against machines or science, often in a science fiction or futuristic setting. It can involve artificial intelligence, cyborgs, or dystopian worldviews.
Man vs. Supernatural: This is an external conflict that involves the protagonist battling against supernatural beings or occurrences, such as ghosts, demons, or magic. It can involve horror or fantasy elements.
Man vs. Time: This is an external conflict that involves the protagonist struggling against the limitations of time, such as deadlines, aging, or historical events. It can involve race against time plots or nostalgia.
Man vs. Unknown: This is an external conflict that involves the protagonist grappling with unknown or unexplained phenomena, such as aliens, unknown territories, or cosmic forces. It can involve mystery or science fiction elements.
"Traditionally, conflict is a major element of narrative or dramatic structure that creates challenges in a story by adding uncertainty as to whether the goal will be achieved."
"In works of narrative, conflict is the challenge main characters need to solve to achieve their goals."
"However, narrative is not limited to a single conflict."
"In narrative, the term resolution refers to the closure or conclusion of the conflict."
"The resolution... may or may not occur by the story's end."
"...creates challenges in a story by adding uncertainty..."
"...adding uncertainty as to whether the goal will be achieved."
"...the challenge main characters need to solve to achieve their goals."
"Traditionally, conflict is a major element of narrative or dramatic structure..."
"Traditionally, conflict is a major element of narrative or dramatic structure..."
"Conflict...creates challenges in a story..."
"Traditionally, conflict is a major element of narrative or dramatic structure..."
"The resolution... refers to the closure or conclusion of the conflict."
"The resolution... may or may not occur by the story's end."
"Adding uncertainty as to whether the goal will be achieved."
"Traditionally, conflict is a major element of narrative or dramatic structure..."
"In narrative, the term resolution refers to the closure or conclusion of the conflict..."
"...creates challenges in a story."
"...the challenge main characters need to solve..."
"The resolution... may or may not occur by the story's end." Quotes: