Conflict Definitions & Examples
Man vs. Man
Jack Juniper is the best fighter pilot in the Air Force. He can take down an enemy jet while doing a barrel roll. One day while Jack is escorting some friendly pilots to a military base, something that Jack has never seen before attacks the convoy... aliens! Can Jack outmaneuver the highly skilled alien pilots or is the mission doomed to failure?
Man vs. Nature
Janie is on a whitewater-rafting trip along a choppy river when their guide suddenly has a heart attack. Now she and the other passengers must learn to work together to survive the treacherous rapids. As if things weren't bad enough, some of the passengers spotted a bear following the confused rafters along the shore. Will Janie make it home safely?
Man vs. Self
Jim does not know whether to help Ryan or not.
Man vs. Self
Some literary conflicts take the form of an individual struggling with his own mind.
Man vs. Man
conflict of one person against another
Man vs. Nature
A teenager is stranded in the mountains and can't find help.
Man vs. Nature
A tornado hits Oklahoma and many people lost their homes.
Man vs. Machine
A struggle between a character and a machine or technology
Man vs. Self
A teenager can't stop playing video games long enough to get his homework done
Man vs. Nature
A swimmer is being pulled out to sea by an undercurrent (riptide).
Man vs. Nature
A character struggles against the forces of nature
Man vs. Nature
A family is shipwrecked and stuck on a deserted island with wild animals.
Man vs. Fate (Supernatural)
A lawyer and his client desperately try to avoid the death penalty, but everything they do is ignored or countered by the judge or the prosecution, and it seems like there is nothing they can do.
Man vs. Nature
A pilot struggles to bring a damaged plane under control due to the terrible weather.
Man vs. Self
Although your friends say that you're very athletic, you think just the opposite. You are overly critical about how you perform while playing any type of sport.
Man vs. Self
After breaking his mother's favorite vase, Casey struggles to decide whether he should tell his mother the truth and face the consequences, or whether he should attempt to hide his mistake and blame the family dog.
Man vs. Society
Brian has the best dog in the world. In fact, he has one of the only dogs in the world. That's because dogs are not allowed in Brian's world, where people believe that dogs spread diseases. Brian's dog will be executed if he is caught. Soon Brian learns of a mysterious underground dog owners club and joins the fight to legalize dogs. Can Brian and his new friends prove to the world that dogs are safe and friendly?
Man vs. Society
Character fighting laws or beliefs of a group of people
External Conflict
Conflict that occurs between two or more characters or opposing forces
Internal Conflict
Conflict that takes place inside of the body/mind
Man vs. Self
Edmund doesn't know if he should leave his sister alone in the apartment.
Man vs. Man
For the past month, you have been bullied on the school bus by an older student. They typically call you names and sometimes even poke at you. Finally one day, you get fed up and scream, "Don't ever touch me again!"
Man vs. Self (Internal)
Struggle between a character and his conscience, morals, or physical limitations
Man vs. Fate (Supernatural)
Where a character or characters fight against elements outside the natural realm or try to prevent an inevitability.
Man vs. Man
The most straightforward type of conflict puts the individual directly against another individual.
Man vs. Nature
This type of conflict puts a story's main character or characters against a natural force such as a flood, predatory animal, or disease epidemic.
Man vs. Man
Two girls both want the same pair of shoes, but it's the last pair on the rack in their size.
Man vs. Self
You have a project due on Monday. Even though you have had several weeks to read, by Sunday night you've only read half the book. To make things worse, your teacher has stated, "I have high expectations for this assignment."
Man vs. Self
You think someone from your class is cheating on a test! You've been trying to work up the nerve to to tell the teacher, but you're just too scared.
Man vs. Man
Your dad is driving you and your friends to a big football game in town. Although you left in plenty of time, he seems to have lost his way. You think you saw the football field a couple of blocks back. When you tell your dad, he says, "Who's driving—you or me?"