Conflict types

English

Definition

The categories of struggle that drive a story's plot. The main types are character vs. character, character vs. self, character vs. society, character vs. nature, character vs. technology, and character vs. fate or the supernatural.

Examples

  • Character vs. character: Harry Potter vs. Voldemort
  • Character vs. self: Hamlet's internal debate about whether to take action
  • Character vs. society: Atticus Finch challenging racial injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird

Related Terms

Plot structure Narrative arc Character growth Theme development

Study This Concept

Practice conflict types with free review games in these units:

Creative Writing Unit 1: Elements of Fiction