Without conflict no story would be worth reading about. Conflict is

central to a story’s plot.

Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts

Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax

Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action

Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax

Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Plot conflict is a struggle between two forces within a story. There are numerous types of conflict: Man vs. Man Person vs.

Person

Man vs. Nature Person vs. Nature

Man vs. Society Person vs. Society

Man vs. Himself Person vs. Self

This type of conflict finds the main

character in conflict with another

character, human or not human.

This type of conflict finds the main

character in conflict with the forces of

nature, which serve as the antagonist.

George got stung by a bee and said,“I wouldn’t have got stung if I’d stayed in

bed.”Fred got stung and we heard him roar,“What am I being punished for?”Lew got stung and we heard him say,“I learned somethin’ about bees today.”

This type of conflict has the main

character in conflict with a larger group:

a community, society, culture,

etc.

They don’t allow pets in this apartment.

That’s not decent, that’s not fair.

They don’t allow pets in this apartment.

They don’t listen, they don’t care.

I told them he’s quiet and never does bark,

I told them he’d do all his stuff in the park,

I told them he’s cuddly and friendly, and yet—

They won’t allow pets.

In this type of conflict, the main character

experiences some kind of inner conflict.

There is a voice inside of youThat whispers all day long,“I feel that this is right for me,I know that this is wrong.”No teacher, preacher, parent, friendOr wise man can decideWhat’s right for you—just listen toThe voice that speaks inside.