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Five Forms of Conflict in Literature

All great literature involves some type of conflict that characters will encounter as the plot unravel and resolve by the end of the narrative. Conflict is essential to any writer's work because, without conflict, there is no plot. Literary scholars generally recognize five main forms of conflict that appear in literary works.
  1. Man Versus Man

    • In the case of man versus man conflict, two human characters are, in some way, struggling against one another. They may possess conflicting interests, engage in physical confrontations or be competing against one another to attain the same end goal. A story featuring two male characters competing for the affections of a female character would be an example of a story featuring man versus man conflict.

    Man Versus Nature

    • Man versus nature conflict features a character involved in a struggle with his natural environment. An example would be a story where a character, caught in the midst of a violent hurricane, must fight to survive the duration of the storm.

    Man Versus Supernatural

    • Man versus supernatural conflict occurs when a human character struggles against some form of nonhuman, immortal force or entity. An example of man versus supernatural conflict would be a story where a woman finds herself running from a vampire who intends to murder her.

    Man Versus Society

    • With man versus society conflict, a character holds viewpoints that are at odds with those of the society around him and must continue to fight in the face of opposition. An example of man versus society conflict would be a story where a Christian character struggles to survive in a country that persecutes Christians.

    Man Versus Self

    • Man versus self conflict occurs when a character has conflicting feelings on an issue and must make a choice. An example of man versus self conflict would be a story where a character finds $10,000 and must decide between doing the right thing and returning it to its rightful owner or doing the wrong thing and keeping the money for himself.

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