= Partner SiteConflict Types
Conflict is the engine of every story. Without conflict, there’s no tension, no stakes, and no reason to keep reading. Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces—it’s what the character must overcome. Understanding the different types of conflict helps readers analyze literature, predict plot developments, and understand character motivations. It also helps writers craft more compelling stories.
For Teachers
Start with external conflicts (Character vs. Character, Character vs. Nature) since they’re most concrete. Then introduce internal conflict (Character vs. Self). Help students see that most stories have multiple conflict types working together—identifying all of them shows deeper comprehension.
For Parents
After reading or watching a movie together, ask: “What was the problem? What was the character fighting against?” This naturally leads to identifying conflict. Kids quickly grasp that some conflicts are against other people, some against nature, and some happen inside a character’s mind.
What Is Conflict in Literature?
Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces that drives the plot of a story. It creates tension, raises stakes, and gives characters something to overcome. Without conflict, there’s no story—just a series of events. Conflict can be external (against outside forces) or internal (within the character’s mind). Most complex stories feature multiple types of conflict working together.
External vs. Internal Conflict
A struggle against an outside force. The character battles something external: another person, nature, society, or technology.
Visible and concrete—readers can “see” the struggle.A struggle within the character’s mind. The character battles their own fears, desires, guilt, or decisions.
Invisible—readers must infer from thoughts, actions, and dialogue.The 5 Types of Conflict
Against another person
Against natural forces
Against rules or norms
Against oneself
Against destiny or machines
Note: The first four are the most commonly taught. Character vs. Fate and Character vs. Technology are sometimes combined or listed separately depending on the curriculum.
Conflict Types Explained with Examples
Jump to any conflict type, or scroll through all examples below.
Character vs. Character
Against another person
10 examplesCharacter vs. Nature
Against natural forces
10 examplesCharacter vs. Society
Against rules or norms
10 examplesCharacter vs. Self
Internal struggle
10 examplesCharacter vs. Fate/Technology
Against destiny or machines
8 examplesIdentify the Conflict
Test your skills
10 questionsCharacter vs. Character
The protagonist struggles against another person—a villain, rival, enemy, or opposing force. This is the most common and recognizable type of conflict.
Character vs. Character occurs when the protagonist faces opposition from another person or group of people. This includes hero vs. villain, rivalries, competitions, arguments, and battles. The antagonist doesn’t have to be evil—they just have to oppose the protagonist’s goals.
Harry Potter vs. Voldemort (Harry Potter series)
The classic hero vs. villain conflict. Voldemort killed Harry’s parents and wants to kill Harry; Harry must ultimately defeat him.
Cinderella vs. Stepmother (Cinderella)
The stepmother mistreats Cinderella and tries to prevent her from attending the ball and finding happiness.
Three Pigs vs. Big Bad Wolf (The Three Little Pigs)
The wolf wants to eat the pigs; the pigs must protect themselves. A clear predator vs. prey conflict.
Sherlock Holmes vs. Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes stories)
Detective vs. criminal mastermind. Two brilliant minds on opposite sides of the law.
Greasers vs. Socs (The Outsiders)
Two rival groups from different social classes in conflict throughout the novel, leading to violence and tragedy.
Marty vs. Judd Travers (Shiloh)
A boy fights to protect a dog from its abusive owner. The conflict forces Marty to make difficult moral choices.
Ralph vs. Jack (Lord of the Flies)
Two boys with opposing leadership styles—civilization vs. savagery—compete for control of the group.
Tortoise vs. Hare (The Tortoise and the Hare)
A competition between two characters with different abilities and attitudes. Not all character conflicts are violent—some are competitions.
Auggie vs. Julian (Wonder)
Julian bullies Auggie because of his facial difference. This conflict represents prejudice and cruelty.
Katniss vs. Other Tributes (The Hunger Games)
In the arena, Katniss must fight other teenagers to survive. The conflict is forced by the larger society vs. character conflict.
Character vs. Nature
The protagonist struggles against natural forces—weather, animals, terrain, disease, or the environment. Survival stories often feature this conflict.
Character vs. Nature occurs when a character faces challenges from the natural world. This includes surviving storms, escaping predators, crossing dangerous terrain, fighting disease, or enduring extreme conditions. Nature is indifferent—it’s not evil, just dangerous.
Brian vs. the Wilderness (Hatchet)
After a plane crash, Brian must survive alone in the Canadian wilderness with only a hatchet. He faces hunger, animals, weather, and terrain.
Pi vs. the Ocean (Life of Pi)
Stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean, Pi must survive storms, thirst, starvation, and sharing the boat with a tiger.
The Fisherman vs. the Sea (The Old Man and the Sea)
Santiago battles a giant marlin far out at sea, then must fight off sharks on the journey home. The sea is both provider and threat.
Crew vs. Storm (The Perfect Storm)
Fishermen are caught in a massive storm at sea. The hurricane doesn’t care about them—it’s simply a force they can’t overcome.
Survivors vs. Cold (Touching the Void)
Mountain climbers must survive extreme cold, altitude, and injury in the Andes. Every moment is a battle against the environment.
Dorothy vs. the Tornado (The Wizard of Oz)
A tornado sweeps Dorothy to Oz. While brief, this natural disaster sets the entire story in motion.
Miyax vs. the Arctic (Julie of the Wolves)
A girl lost on the Alaskan tundra must survive by learning from wolves. The cold and isolation are constant threats.
Hikers vs. Desert (127 Hours)
A hiker trapped by a boulder must survive and eventually escape from a remote desert canyon.
Moana vs. the Ocean (Moana)
Moana must cross the dangerous ocean to save her island. The sea presents both obstacles and assistance.
Family vs. Dust Bowl (Out of the Dust)
A family struggles to survive during the Dust Bowl era, battling dust storms, drought, and crop failure.
Character vs. Society
The protagonist struggles against social norms, laws, government, cultural expectations, or institutions. The character challenges “the way things are.”
Character vs. Society occurs when a character fights against social forces—unfair laws, oppressive governments, discrimination, traditions, or expectations. The antagonist isn’t one person but a whole system. These conflicts often explore themes of justice, freedom, and individuality.
Katniss vs. The Capitol (The Hunger Games)
Katniss challenges an oppressive government that forces children to fight to the death. Her defiance sparks a revolution.
Jonas vs. The Community (The Giver)
Jonas discovers his “perfect” society is built on terrible secrets. He must decide whether to accept or fight the system.
Atticus vs. Racist Society (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Atticus defends a Black man in a racist town, challenging the unjust social norms of 1930s Alabama.
Winston vs. Big Brother (1984)
Winston rebels against a totalitarian government that controls every aspect of life, including thought itself.
Auggie vs. Prejudice (Wonder)
Auggie faces a society that judges him by his appearance. He must navigate a world not built for people who look different.
Anne Frank vs. Nazi Regime (The Diary of Anne Frank)
Anne and her family hide from a government that wants to kill them simply because they are Jewish.
Cassie vs. Segregation (Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry)
Cassie confronts the racist laws and customs of 1930s Mississippi that limit her family’s freedom and safety.
Tris vs. Faction System (Divergent)
Tris doesn’t fit into her society’s rigid faction system. Being “divergent” makes her a threat to those in power.
Hester vs. Puritan Society (The Scarlet Letter)
Hester is publicly shamed and forced to wear a scarlet “A” by a judgmental Puritan community.
Esperanza vs. Poverty/Gender Roles (The House on Mango Street)
Esperanza struggles against poverty and limiting expectations for women in her community.
Character vs. Self
The protagonist struggles within their own mind—against fear, guilt, doubt, addiction, or difficult decisions. This internal conflict drives character growth.
Character vs. Self (also called internal conflict) occurs when a character battles their own emotions, beliefs, or decisions. This might include overcoming fear, fighting temptation, dealing with guilt, making a difficult choice, or changing their own flaws. Internal conflict often accompanies external conflicts and drives character development.
Auggie’s Self-Doubt (Wonder)
Auggie struggles with whether he belongs at school and whether people will ever see past his face. His inner battle is about self-worth.
Hamlet’s Indecision (Hamlet)
Hamlet knows he should avenge his father but can’t bring himself to act. His internal struggle drives the entire play.
Marty’s Moral Dilemma (Shiloh)
Marty must decide whether lying and stealing are justified to protect a dog from abuse. He struggles with right vs. wrong.
Jonas’s Choice (The Giver)
Jonas must choose between the comfortable ignorance of his community and the painful truth. Safety vs. freedom.
Meg’s Self-Worth (A Wrinkle in Time)
Meg sees her differences as flaws. She must learn that her “faults” are actually her strengths.
Greg’s Laziness (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)
Greg constantly battles his own laziness, selfishness, and poor choices. His problems are usually self-created.
Melinda’s Silence (Speak)
After trauma, Melinda can’t speak about what happened. Her journey is finding the courage to use her voice.
Simba’s Guilt (The Lion King)
Simba believes he caused his father’s death and runs from his responsibilities. He must overcome guilt and accept who he is.
Ponyboy’s Identity (The Outsiders)
Ponyboy struggles with who he is—a Greaser? A scholar? Something more? He’s caught between worlds.
Winnie’s Decision (Tuck Everlasting)
Winnie must decide whether to drink the water and live forever. It’s an impossible choice between mortality and eternal life.
Character vs. Fate / Technology
The protagonist struggles against destiny, prophecy, supernatural forces, or technology. These conflicts explore free will, human identity, and forces beyond our control.
Character vs. Fate occurs when a character struggles against destiny, prophecy, or supernatural forces. Character vs. Technology occurs when a character battles machines, artificial intelligence, or the consequences of technological advancement. Both involve forces that seem beyond human control.
Oedipus vs. Prophecy (Oedipus Rex)
Despite every effort to avoid it, Oedipus fulfills the prophecy that he’ll kill his father and marry his mother. Can anyone escape fate?
Harry Potter vs. Prophecy (Harry Potter)
A prophecy says Harry or Voldemort must die at the other’s hand. Harry must face a destiny he didn’t choose.
Meg vs. IT (A Wrinkle in Time)
Meg battles IT, a disembodied brain that controls minds. It represents conformity and the loss of individuality.
Humans vs. Machines (The Terminator)
Humans battle against Skynet and its army of robots. Technology created to help humanity now threatens to destroy it.
WALL-E vs. Automation (WALL-E)
Humans have become dependent on technology and lost their humanity. WALL-E represents the fight to reclaim what makes us human.
Macbeth vs. Witches’ Prophecy (Macbeth)
The witches’ prophecy sets Macbeth on a path of murder. Did fate make him act, or did his own ambition?
Humans vs. AI (2001: A Space Odyssey)
The AI computer HAL turns against the crew it was designed to help, raising questions about trusting technology.
Percy vs. Prophecy (Percy Jackson series)
A prophecy predicts a half-blood child will make a choice that determines Olympus’s fate. Percy must navigate destiny while making his own choices.
Identify the Conflict Type
Read each scenario and identify the conflict type. Check your answer below.
“A young woman must decide whether to follow her dreams of becoming an artist or take over the family business as her parents expect.”
Character vs. Self — She’s battling her own conflicting desires (dreams vs. duty). Some might also argue Character vs. Society (family expectations).
“Sailors struggle to keep their ship afloat during a hurricane that threatens to sink them.”
Character vs. Nature — The sailors are battling a natural force (the hurricane) that threatens their survival.
“Two brothers compete for the same position on the basketball team, and their rivalry strains their relationship.”
Character vs. Character — The two brothers are in direct competition with each other.
“A girl living in a future society where books are banned secretly reads forbidden literature.”
Character vs. Society — She’s fighting against an oppressive system that has banned something she values.
“A hero learns from an oracle that he is destined to destroy his own kingdom, no matter what choices he makes.”
Character vs. Fate — The character struggles against a predetermined destiny he cannot escape.
“A man wrestles with guilt after lying to protect a friend, unsure whether he made the right choice.”
Character vs. Self — The internal struggle is between his actions and his conscience.
“A detective races to solve murders committed by a serial killer who always seems one step ahead.”
Character vs. Character — The detective is directly opposing another person (the serial killer).
“Colonists on a new planet must battle the alien environment—extreme temperatures, toxic air, and dangerous creatures.”
Character vs. Nature — Even on another planet, the environment is a natural force they must survive.
“A self-driving car’s AI must choose between two harmful outcomes when an accident is unavoidable.”
Character vs. Technology — The scenario explores conflicts created by artificial intelligence and machines.
“A teenager refuses to participate in her culture’s coming-of-age ritual because she disagrees with its traditions.”
Character vs. Society — She’s challenging cultural norms and expectations.
Common Conflict Mistakes
Watch out for these frequent errors when identifying conflict types.
1 Thinking Stories Have Only One Conflict
“The conflict in The Hunger Games is Character vs. Character because Katniss fights other tributes.”
“The story has multiple conflicts: Character vs. Character (other tributes), Character vs. Society (the Capitol), Character vs. Self (moral choices), and Character vs. Nature (the arena).”
Remember: Complex stories usually have multiple conflict types working together. Identifying all of them shows deeper understanding.
2 Confusing the Antagonist with Society
“Harry Potter vs. Voldemort is Character vs. Society because Voldemort leads a group.”
“Harry vs. Voldemort is Character vs. Character. Character vs. Society would be Harry challenging wizarding world prejudices or laws.”
Remember: Character vs. Society involves fighting SYSTEMS, LAWS, NORMS, or INSTITUTIONS—not just a group led by one person.
3 Missing Internal Conflicts
“I don’t see any conflict—nothing bad happens in this chapter.”
Even when there’s no external action, characters may be struggling internally—with fear, guilt, decisions, or self-doubt.
Remember: Character vs. Self conflicts are invisible but powerful. Look for difficult decisions, inner turmoil, or characters wrestling with their emotions.
4 Confusing Nature with Setting
“The story takes place in a forest, so it’s Character vs. Nature.”
“Character vs. Nature requires the character to actively struggle against natural forces. A forest setting alone isn’t a conflict.”
Remember: Setting is where a story takes place. Conflict is what the character struggles against. A forest setting only becomes Character vs. Nature if the character must survive its dangers.
5 Thinking Conflict Must Be Violent
“There’s no conflict because no one fights.”
“Conflict includes any struggle: a competition, a disagreement, an internal choice, or resisting pressure. No violence required.”
Remember: Conflict is any opposing force—it can be a race, an argument, peer pressure, a moral dilemma, or a character trying to change themselves.
Tips for Teaching Conflict Types
Character vs. Character and Character vs. Nature are the most concrete and visible. Save internal conflict (vs. Self) for after students master external types.
Visual media makes conflict obvious. Students can easily identify conflict types in films they know before applying the skill to literature.
This simple question cuts to the core of conflict. The answer reveals the type: a person? nature? rules? themselves?
Encourage students to find ALL the conflicts in a story. Most texts have at least two or three types working together.
Show how conflicts—especially internal ones—drive character development. Overcoming conflict is often how characters change.
Have students intentionally include specific conflict types in their own stories. Understanding conflict makes them better writers.
Conflict Types: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of conflict in literature?
The main types of conflict are: Character vs. Character (against another person), Character vs. Nature (against natural forces), Character vs. Society (against rules, laws, or norms), Character vs. Self (internal struggle), and Character vs. Fate/Technology (against destiny or machines).
What is the difference between external and internal conflict?
External conflict is a struggle against an outside force—another person, nature, society, or technology. It’s visible and concrete. Internal conflict (Character vs. Self) happens within the character’s mind—fear, guilt, difficult decisions, or inner change. It’s invisible but often drives the deepest character development.
Can a story have more than one type of conflict?
Yes! Most complex stories have multiple conflict types working together. For example, The Hunger Games has Character vs. Character (other tributes), Character vs. Society (the Capitol), Character vs. Nature (the arena), and Character vs. Self (Katniss’s moral choices). Identifying all conflicts shows deeper comprehension.
What is Character vs. Society conflict?
Character vs. Society occurs when a character struggles against social norms, laws, government, cultural expectations, or institutions. The antagonist isn’t one person but a whole SYSTEM. Examples include fighting unjust laws, challenging discrimination, or resisting oppressive governments.
How do I identify the conflict type in a story?
Ask: “What is the character fighting against?” If it’s another person → Character vs. Character. If it’s nature or survival → Character vs. Nature. If it’s rules, laws, or expectations → Character vs. Society. If it’s their own fears, guilt, or choices → Character vs. Self. If it’s destiny or machines → Character vs. Fate/Technology.
Why is conflict important in stories?
Conflict is the engine of every story—without it, there’s no tension, no stakes, and no reason to keep reading. Conflict creates plot (something must be overcome), reveals character (how people respond to challenges), and delivers theme (what the story says about life). No conflict = no story.
Related: Story Elements → | Character Traits → | Theme Examples →
