Conflict

Definition

Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces that drives the narrative in a story. It manifests in various forms, such as internal versus external conflict, and is crucial for developing characters, themes, and maintaining dramatic tension. Understanding conflict helps to uncover deeper meanings and motivations behind characters' actions and dialogue.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Conflict can be classified into different types such as man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. society, and man vs. nature, each serving to highlight various themes and character dynamics.
2. In character development, conflict often reveals a character's true nature, motivations, and growth, leading to critical turning points in their arcs.
3. Effective dialogue in a script often centers around conflict, as characters express opposing viewpoints or emotions that enhance tension and engagement.
4. Maintaining dramatic tension involves escalating conflicts throughout the story, ensuring that stakes rise and characters face increasing challenges.
5. Conflict resolution can significantly impact themes; how a conflict is resolved often reflects the moral or message of the narrative.

Review Questions

• How does conflict influence character development within a story?
  • Conflict plays a crucial role in character development by forcing characters to confront their fears, desires, and relationships. As they navigate conflicts, their true motivations and personalities are revealed, allowing for growth and transformation. For example, a character may start off timid but become assertive through facing challenges, illustrating how conflict acts as a catalyst for change.
• Discuss how dialogue can be structured to enhance conflict in a performance.
  • Dialogue can be structured to enhance conflict by incorporating opposing viewpoints, emotional stakes, and tension-filled exchanges between characters. Using subtext in conversations allows for underlying conflicts to emerge without being explicitly stated, making interactions more engaging. By crafting lines that reflect clashing desires or misunderstandings, directors can create heightened drama and keep audiences invested in the characters' struggles.
• Evaluate how different types of conflict contribute to thematic depth in a narrative.
  • Different types of conflict contribute to thematic depth by exploring various aspects of the human experience and societal issues. For example, man vs. self conflict often delves into personal identity or moral dilemmas, while man vs. society highlights social injustices or cultural clashes. By weaving multiple conflicts into the narrative, playwrights can enrich themes such as redemption, resilience, or the complexity of human relationships, ultimately leading to a more impactful story.

Related terms

Dramatic Irony: A situation where the audience knows more about the events of the story than the characters do, creating tension as characters navigate conflicts unaware of crucial information.

Protagonist: The main character who faces the central conflict of the story, often driving the narrative forward through their struggles and choices.

Antagonist: The character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict that propels the plot and develops themes within the story.