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Types of Conflict in Books

Conflict is part of what makes the plot in a book more interesting. If there wasn't conflict there would be no action and a book would be very boring. There are four main types of conflict in classic literature. Sometimes there can be more than one type present in a book, and sometimes the book contains only one type.
  1. Protagonist Against Self

    • This type of conflict is when the main character, called the protagonist, is enduring an internal struggle. Maybe the character doesn't know how to resolve a difficult situation, or makes certain choices that have repercussions. The protagonist could be torn between two decisions.

    Protagonist Against Antagonist

    • If the protagonist of the story is struggling against an adversary, this character is the antagonist. This could be a physical fight or maybe just an emotional conflict between two people.

    Protagonist Against Nature

    • When the protagonist is struggling against nature, this is an outside force he is working against. It could be a natural disaster such as a tornado or earthquake, or it could be just the weather.

    Protagonist Against Society

    • When the main character struggles against his way of life or how he fits into the world this is a conflict of the character against society. This could also be a character against a law or a certain rule she is supposed to abide by, or even a child against parents or teachers.

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