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1. Understanding External Conflict
Conflict is fundamental to storytelling. It’s the core element that creates tension, drives character development, and makes narratives engaging. In essence, conflict is the problem or struggle that a character faces. External conflict involves a character’s struggle against an outside force, be it another individual, the environment, or societal norms. This type of conflict creates compelling storylines, and it can keep the reader hooked.
Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- Definition: External conflict is the opposition a character faces from forces outside themselves. This could be another character, nature, or society.
- Driving Force: It’s the catalyst for action, forcing characters to make decisions and take steps to resolve the conflict.
- Engagement: It creates suspense and keeps the audience invested in the outcome.
- Contrast: It is distinct from internal conflict, which is a character’s internal struggle.
- Coexistence: External and internal conflicts often intertwine, adding depth to the narrative.
2. Types of External Conflict: Character vs. Character
This is perhaps the most recognizable type of external conflict. It involves a direct confrontation between two or more characters. One character, the protagonist, usually opposes another character, the antagonist. The conflict can be physical, verbal, or psychological, but it always involves a direct clash between individuals.
Examples include:
- A hero battling a villain.
- Two rivals competing for the same goal.
- A debate between characters with opposing viewpoints.
Classic fairy tales and myths like the miller’s daughter outsmarting Rumpelstiltskin, Cinderella escaping her evil stepmother, and Theseus slaying the Minotaur fall into this category. These stories exemplify the simple yet effective nature of character versus character conflict, where the protagonist must overcome a defined opponent.
3. Types of External Conflict: Character vs. Nature
In this type of conflict, the character struggles against the forces of nature. This could involve surviving in a harsh environment, battling a natural disaster, or fighting against a disease. The natural world presents a formidable challenge, and the character must use their wits and skills to survive.
Examples include:
- A person stranded in the wilderness.
- A community facing a devastating storm.
- A character battling a deadly illness.
Adventure stories like Robinson Crusoe, where the protagonist is shipwrecked on an island and must find a way to survive, perfectly illustrate this type of conflict. These narratives highlight the resilience and resourcefulness required to overcome the relentless power of nature.
4. Types of External Conflict: Character vs. Society
This type of conflict occurs when a character clashes with the norms, laws, or values of their society. The character may challenge the status quo, fight for social change, or rebel against an oppressive system. These stories often raise questions about justice, freedom, and the individual’s role in society.
Examples include:
- A person fighting for civil rights.
- A whistleblower exposing corruption.
- A rebel challenging a totalitarian regime.
Dystopian novels like The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood are prime examples, as are stories that portray injustice, such as Native Son, Invisible Man, and Trifles. These works encourage readers to examine the flaws within their own societies and consider the consequences of unchecked power and social inequality.
5. Interplay of Conflicts
It’s crucial to recognize that a story can contain multiple types of conflict. A character may be fighting another individual while also challenging societal norms. This interplay of conflicts adds complexity and depth to the narrative, creating a richer and more engaging experience for the audience.
6. External vs. Internal Conflict: A Detailed Comparison
While external conflict deals with outside forces, internal conflict focuses on a character’s inner struggles. It’s the battle within the character’s mind, often involving difficult decisions, moral dilemmas, or conflicting emotions. The internal conflict often influences the character’s actions and drives the plot forward.
Consider these key differences:
| Feature | External Conflict | Internal Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Outside the character | Inside the character’s mind |
| Source | Another character, nature, society | Conflicting emotions, moral dilemmas |
| Manifestation | Physical, verbal, or social actions | Thoughts, feelings, decisions |
| Example | A fight with a bully | Deciding whether to lie or tell the truth |
7. Internal Conflict Examples
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn provides a great example of internal conflict. While Huck faces external conflicts during his adventures, his most significant struggle is internal. He grapples with his own morality regarding his efforts to help Jim, an escaped slave, gain freedom. Huck must overcome his inner belief that helping Jim is wrong, ultimately deciding that helping his friend is the right thing to do.
8. Real-World Examples of External Conflict
To further illustrate external conflict, consider these real-world scenarios:
- Environmental Activism: Activists protesting against deforestation face external conflict with logging companies and governments that prioritize economic gain over environmental protection.
- Political Protests: Individuals protesting against government policies encounter external conflict with law enforcement and those who support the existing regime.
- Personal Battles with Illness: A patient fighting a serious illness faces external conflict with the disease itself and the challenges of medical treatment.
9. External Conflict in Literature: Romeo & Juliet
Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet exemplifies external conflict, intertwining character versus character and character versus society dynamics. Romeo’s love for Juliet leads to conflict with Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, resulting in Tybalt’s death at Romeo’s hand. Juliet’s relationship with Romeo puts her at odds with her father, who demands obedience and threatens to disown her.
These conflicts extend to character versus society. Romeo’s love for Juliet questions the feud between their families. His attempt to stop the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt results in Mercutio’s death. Romeo is then banished from Verona, placing him in conflict with the city’s broader society. Juliet’s desire to be with Romeo clashes with a society that views women and their marriages as tools for political gain, denying women control over their own lives.
10. “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire” portrays a man attempting to travel alone through the Alaskan wilderness in extreme cold. After falling through ice and getting wet, he struggles to build a fire to stay alive. This conflict escalates when snow from a tree extinguishes his fire, sealing his fate. The man’s struggle against the cold and snow is a clear example of character versus nature.
11. 1984 by George Orwell
In George Orwell’s 1984, the protagonist, Winston, tries to resist the oppressive Party that controls his society. The Party’s power is overwhelming, penetrating minds and forcing people to deny reality. Winston’s interactions with O’Brien represent a character versus character conflict, but O’Brien is a representative of the Party, making the primary conflict one of character versus society.
12. Function of External Conflict in Literature: Driving the Narrative
Without conflict, stories lack direction and engagement. External conflict drives the plot forward, compelling characters to act and make choices. In Lord of the Rings, the conflict between Sauron and Middle-Earth forces Frodo to embark on his quest. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet’s quest for revenge on his father’s murderer sets the entire plot in motion.
13. How External Conflict Shapes Character Development
External conflicts are not just plot devices; they significantly shape the characters involved. As characters face challenges and adversaries, they undergo transformations that reveal their true nature.
Here’s how external conflict influences character development:
- Reveals Strengths and Weaknesses: External conflicts often push characters to their limits, exposing their hidden strengths and inherent weaknesses. For instance, a character facing a natural disaster might discover unexpected resilience.
- Forces Decision-Making: Characters in conflict must make critical decisions under pressure. These choices define their moral compass and influence their relationships with others.
- Promotes Growth and Change: Overcoming external challenges can lead to significant personal growth. Characters may learn valuable lessons, change their perspectives, or develop new skills.
- Enhances Empathy and Connection: Readers often connect deeply with characters facing external conflicts. This empathy can lead to a greater understanding of the human condition.
14. The Role of Setting in External Conflict
The setting of a story can significantly impact external conflicts. The environment in which the characters exist can either exacerbate or alleviate their struggles, adding another layer of complexity to the narrative.
Consider these examples:
- Wilderness Survival: In stories where characters are stranded in the wilderness, the setting becomes a primary antagonist. The harsh conditions, lack of resources, and unpredictable elements of nature intensify the character versus nature conflict.
- Oppressive Societies: In dystopian novels, the setting often reflects the oppressive nature of the society. The physical environment might be bleak and controlled, mirroring the characters’ lack of freedom and creating a palpable sense of dread.
- Urban Environments: In urban settings, characters may face external conflicts related to social issues, such as poverty, crime, or discrimination. The setting can highlight these problems and contribute to the characters’ struggles.
15. Examples of External Conflict in Film
External conflict is a staple in cinema, driving the plots of countless movies across various genres. Here are some notable examples:
- Action Films: Action movies thrive on external conflict, often featuring a hero battling a villain or fighting against a corrupt organization. Examples include the James Bond franchise, Die Hard, and The Avengers.
- Survival Dramas: Survival dramas focus on characters struggling to survive in extreme environments. Films like The Revenant, Cast Away, and The Martian showcase the character versus nature conflict in gripping detail.
- Historical Epics: Historical epics often depict large-scale conflicts between nations or groups of people. Examples include Braveheart, Gladiator, and Kingdom of Heaven.
- Social Issue Films: Films that address social issues often highlight the character versus society conflict. Examples include Selma, Philadelphia, and Erin Brockovich.
16. The Impact of External Conflict on the Plot
External conflict is not merely an element of storytelling; it is a crucial driver of the plot. It initiates the action, creates tension, and influences the characters’ decisions, shaping the overall narrative arc.
Here’s how external conflict impacts the plot:
- Inciting Incident: External conflict often serves as the inciting incident that sets the story in motion. This event introduces the main conflict and compels the protagonist to take action.
- Rising Action: As the story progresses, external conflicts escalate, creating obstacles and challenges that the protagonist must overcome. These obstacles build tension and keep the audience engaged.
- Climax: The climax of the story typically involves the most intense confrontation related to the external conflict. This is the point where the protagonist faces their greatest challenge and must make a critical decision.
- Falling Action: After the climax, the external conflict begins to resolve, leading to the falling action. The consequences of the protagonist’s actions become clear, and the story moves towards its conclusion.
- Resolution: The resolution of the story involves the final outcome of the external conflict. The protagonist may succeed or fail, but the conflict is ultimately resolved, providing closure to the narrative.
17. How to Identify External Conflict in a Story
Identifying external conflict in a story involves analyzing the relationships between characters, their environment, and the society they inhabit.
Here are some steps to help you identify external conflict:
- Identify the Protagonist: Determine who the main character is and what they are trying to achieve.
- Look for Opposing Forces: Identify any characters, natural elements, or societal norms that stand in the protagonist’s way.
- Analyze Interactions: Pay attention to the interactions between the protagonist and the opposing forces. Look for clashes, disagreements, or struggles.
- Consider the Stakes: Determine what the protagonist stands to gain or lose as a result of the conflict.
- Examine the Setting: Analyze how the setting influences the conflict. Does the environment support or hinder the protagonist’s efforts?
- Identify the Type of Conflict: Determine whether the conflict is character versus character, character versus nature, or character versus society.
18. The Use of External Conflict in Video Games
External conflict is a cornerstone of video game design, providing the challenges and objectives that drive gameplay and engage players. The types of external conflict found in video games are diverse and can significantly impact the player’s experience.
- Character vs. Character: This is common in fighting games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, where players directly control characters in combat. It also appears in multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) like League of Legends and Dota 2, where teams of players compete against each other.
- Character vs. Nature: Survival games such as Minecraft, The Long Dark, and Subnautica heavily rely on this conflict. Players must gather resources, build shelter, and survive against harsh environments and wildlife.
- Character vs. Society: Role-playing games (RPGs) often incorporate this conflict, where players challenge societal norms, fight against oppressive regimes, or navigate complex social structures. Examples include The Elder Scrolls series and Cyberpunk 2077.
- Boss Battles: These encounters often represent the culmination of external conflicts. Whether fighting a powerful villain, a monstrous creature, or a corrupt leader, boss battles serve as major tests of the player’s skill and strategy.
19. Using External Conflict to Build Suspense
Suspense is a critical element in storytelling, and external conflict is a powerful tool for building it. Here’s how writers use external conflict to keep readers on the edge of their seats:
- Creating Obstacles: By introducing challenges and setbacks, writers can create doubt about whether the protagonist will succeed.
- Raising the Stakes: Making the consequences of failure severe increases the tension and keeps readers invested in the outcome.
- Withholding Information: By withholding information about the antagonist or the nature of the conflict, writers can create a sense of mystery and unease.
- Pacing: Controlling the pace at which the conflict unfolds can also build suspense. Slowing down the action and focusing on the characters’ emotions can heighten the tension.
20. External Conflict: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the main purpose of external conflict? | To drive the plot, create tension, and develop characters. |
| How does external conflict differ from internal conflict? | External conflict is a struggle between a character and an outside force, while internal conflict is a struggle within a character’s mind. |
| Can a story have both external and internal conflict? | Yes, and often the most compelling stories do. The interplay between external and internal conflict adds depth and complexity to the narrative. |
| What are the three main types of external conflict? | Character vs. Character, Character vs. Nature, and Character vs. Society. |
| How does the setting influence external conflict? | The setting can either exacerbate or alleviate the conflict, adding another layer of complexity to the narrative. |
| How does external conflict contribute to character development? | By forcing characters to make difficult decisions, face challenges, and overcome obstacles, external conflict can reveal their strengths and weaknesses, promote growth, and enhance empathy. |
| What is the role of external conflict in video games? | It provides the challenges and objectives that drive gameplay and engage players, such as fighting opponents, surviving harsh environments, or challenging oppressive regimes. |
| How can writers use external conflict to build suspense? | By creating obstacles, raising the stakes, withholding information, and controlling the pace of the story. |
| Can external conflict be used in non-fiction? | Yes, in narratives such as historical accounts, biographies, and investigative journalism, where individuals or groups face external challenges and struggles. |
| How do I create compelling external conflict in my writing? | By understanding your characters, creating believable antagonists, developing realistic scenarios, and exploring the consequences of the conflict. |
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