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External conflict is defined in contrast to internal conflict, in which the struggle is between a character and themselves—for example, between selfish and selfless impulses. External and internal conflicts aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, they can often play out simultaneously.
Sep 30, 2021 · Conflict provides crucial tension in any story and is used to drive the narrative forward. It is often used to reveal a deeper meaning in a narrative while highlighting characters’ motivations, values, and weaknesses. There are six main types of literary conflict, each of which is detailed below.
- Character vs. Character(s) Pesky people: they cause trouble wherever they go! That’s the crux of this type of external conflict, which you’ll find in many, if not most, stories.
- Character vs. Society. Particularly prevalent in fiction these days, this type of external struggle pits the individual against the collective. In this case, “the collective” might take the form of something like
- Character vs. Nature. How do you fancy your chances in a fight against Mother Earth? In this type of conflict, that is exactly what our protagonists are facing.
- Character vs. Technology. Since the dawn of the industrial age, humanity has had a turbulent relationship with technology. Some see scientific progress as a defiance of God and the natural, while others have used it to question the limits of our morality, patience, and greed.
External conflict is a struggle that takes place between the main character and some outside force. Therefore, it is outside the body of the protagonist. Usually, it occurs when the protagonist struggles against the antagonist, a character that opposes the protagonist in the main body of the story.
In literature, external conflict serves as a pivotal mechanism to create tension and drama, engaging readers deeply in the narrative. These conflicts occur when a character clashes with external forces, often leading to a turning point in the story.
- Person vs. Person. Also called man vs. man and protagonist vs. antagonist, this is the most common type of external conflict. It is clear and universally understood as a good vs. evil story in which an unambiguous challenger opposes the main character.
- Person vs. Nature. This type of conflict counters a character against some force of nature, such as an animal or the weather. A classic example is Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea.
- Person vs. Society. When a novel sets a character against a tradition, an institution, a law, or some other societal construct, it is a Person vs. Society story.
- Person vs. Technology. When science moves beyond human control, conflicts of Person vs. Technology develop. Stories in this conflict type include: 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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Jul 18, 2023 · External conflict is the struggle between a protagonist and something in the outside world. It could be against an antagonist, society, nature, technology, or the supernatural. Defined in opposition to internal conflict, any type of ‘fight’ that exists outside the character’s head is external conflict.
