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Literature vocabulary · Plot and Structure

Conflict

Meaning in literature, with examples

/ˈkɒnflɪkt/nounCore term

In literature, conflict means: The struggle between opposing forces in a story, such as two characters, a character and society, or a character and their own desires, which drives the plot.

In Turkish: çatışma

How it is used

A core term in analysis and creative writing. Teachers distinguish external conflict (character vs. character, nature or society) from internal conflict (character vs. self). Conflict builds, rises, comes to a head and is finally resolved.

Example sentences

  1. The central conflict is between the son's ambitions and his duty to his father.

  2. Her internal conflict is more interesting than any of the external events.

Common collocations

  • central conflict
  • internal conflict
  • external conflict
  • resolve a conflict
  • conflict between
  • plotThe series of connected events in a story and the way the writer arranges them, especially how one event causes another.
  • protagonistThe main character of a story, whose goals, problems and choices drive the plot and whom the reader follows most closely.
  • antagonistThe character or force that opposes the main character and creates the central conflict of a story.
  • climaxThe most intense and important moment of a story, when the main conflict reaches its turning point and the outcome is decided.
  • resolutionThe final part of a story, after the climax, where the main conflict is settled and loose ends are tied up.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Plot and Structure

Practise with graded reading

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