Literature majors / English teachers - Please help!?

Question

After many years in the adult world, I am taking an online writing course. I realized the other day, that I do not have a clear understanding of conflict in literature. I've tried dissecting the books I've read recently, and I'm not doing so well with it. Can you please help me to understand what the actual conflict is in these books? (Any or all)

Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)

Harry Potter 1 through 7 (J K Rowling)

Twilight, New Moon & Eclipse (Stephenie Meyers)

Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak)

Thanks! Your help is sincerely appreciated!

Thanks for answers thus far. I'm still having difficulty though. I understand the concept, but I see too many conflicts. How do I isolate the main conflict? I'd really like someone tell me flat out what they see as the conflict in these books. Then, I think I'll be able to work backwards in my mind to see how it developed.

Thanks again!

This is not homework. I'm not trying to get anyone to do anything for me. This is not even particularly part of the coursework. It's just something I realize I need to really get clear in my own mind to write my best stories. So, as homework, it's only what I've put on myself. I guess what I'm looking for, is a teacher's manual so I can check my work. Is there anyone who can/will help with that?

Answer 1

Wow, what class are you taking that involves the Stephenie Meyers series? I love it, but it's quite sophomoric in style and well...anyway. I could explain the conflicts of these books, but I think what would be better is if you actually understand what conflict is.

I can understand it can be confusing when explained so I'll try to use examples that involve the book list you have provided.

Although literary conflict is technically part of plot, its so important that when you analyze a book, you give conflict its own element. Conflict, as defined by American Heritage Dictionary, is "opposition between characters or forces in a work of drama or fiction, especially opposition that motivates or shapes the action of the plot." Its basically what causes the protagonist to struggle throughout the plot.

Generally there are four types of conflict:
*Man vs. Man
*Man vs. Nature
*Man vs. Society
*Man vs. Self
**Some people also add the conflicts of Man vs. Beast and Man vs. Machine, but my professors pointed out, and I agree, that these can be included under Man vs. Man because the antagonist, be it Man, Beast (or monster [Frankenstein's Creature, vampires, werewolves, etc.]), or Machine, is usually given so many human traits, with a couple of changes in the text, readers could be fooled into thinking it was Man vs. Man. For example a Beast would be considered Jacob in Twilight, but we all see him and the Cullens as basically human. Or in I, Robot the robots are made to be very similar to humans so we can feel their sorrow and confusion and whatnot.

Man vs. Man would be a conflict between the protagonist and "usually" the antagonist. For example. in HP, Harry had to fight against Voldemort. Thats literary conflict. Very simple. Its when one character is against the other character, and it doesn't always have to be fighting, it could be two men in a contest, or two girls trying to get the same man, or whatever.

An example of Man vs. Nature would be something like The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Jungar (which was turned into a movie starring George Clooney). The plot of the story is all based around the characters trying to survive the "perfect storm" on a boat. Its man conflicting against an act of nature.

Man vs. Society is usually found in science fiction (though is most definitely in other genres) and is when the values and customs by which everyone else lives are being challenged. Right now I can't really think of an example in the books that you've provided

Man vs. Self is shown in almost all of these books. In HP at the ending of the 6th book, Harry has self conflict over whether he should break it off with Ginny and the reasons as to why should. Same with Edward's feeling over breaking it off with Bella in Twilight and New Moon. Max's inner struggle with whether he really wants to return home to a mother who sends him to bed early for doing what comes natural to him. And Elizabeth Bennet wishing to not marry for money, but for love. All of these are the character fighting the feelings inside of themselves. Basically an internal struggle for the main character.

There are usually multiple points of conflict in any story. Really all you have to do is look at the plot of the stories and figure out how that plot runs. What makes the characters do what they do and what action brings on more action.

Literary conflict is just conflict (by definition) written on paper. Theres nothing special about it, its normal conflict that anyone can go through (of course, not like conflicts involving Dark Wizard Lords or vampires, but you know what I mean).

If you've read the books, this should be quite simple. I hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 2

I wonder whty too. Quite a few of my Atheist friends are English lit majors. Perhaps the link is in the critical and judgemental nature of that discipline. Interestingly, I also know several English lit majors who are homosexual. Perhaps there is a link there too, since homo's are condemned by most religions. Since there is only slight and equal proof that God either does or does not exist, that is not an acceptable answer. After hundreds - sometimes thousands of years of forced religion, it may be that people of a more liberal or bohemian nature adopt what has become the modernist/trendy belief of Atheism. Given the opportunity, there are always those who rebel against the establishment in some way, and most only do it because they think it's "cool" (like taking drugs) BTW, I am a sort of Atheist, and was never an English Lit major ( or homo)

Answer 3

Someone gave you the formula you need to figure out the conflict.

Man versus Man
Man versus Nature
Man versus Himself

Can't get any clearer than that. What you seem to be looking for is someone to do your homework for you and that won't help you at all.

In each of the stories listed, everyone interprets the conflict in their own way. So for someone to come along and spell it all out for you won't work when your teachers says, "Hmm interesting and how did you come to this conclusion?" What are you going to say?

Harry Potter should be pretty easy. Is Harry in conflict with other people, nature or himself?
Same for all the other stories. Are the characters in conflict with other people, nature or themselves?

Some of these will have dual conflicts. Maybe even more. But if you can't break it down and explain it to the instructor, how will you ever explain it to your reading audience in a creative way they will understand? Writing is more than just putting pen to paper and creating pretty words. You have to be able to understand what you are reading, the conflicts, the resolutions and everything else involved in the telling of a good tale. If you can't break things down in a creative way to write them, why are you taking a writing course?

I'm not trying to be mean, I'm trying to get you to understand that everyone reads and interprets things so differently that to ask for someone to just give you the answers you seek won't help you at all unless you can figure out the basic formula. Good luck!

Answer 4

Conflict is the event that changes the course of a story. Things are going along nicely then BAM some conflict comes into the story. Then the characters spend the rest of the story trying to resolve that conflict.

Take Twilight. Bella is happily enjoying her new school when BAM she discovers the boy she likes is a vampire. That is a good example of conflict.

Pax- C

Answer 5

Rahter than tell you the answer for each book, let me tell you how to formulate the answer. Conflict is forces working against each other. It can be person versus person, person versus him/herself, person versus nature etc....When you are reading each book, always think of which forces are fighting against each other, then analyse why they are working against each other, and then reflect on how those forces have been resolved, or not resolved (as in the case of Harry Potter). I hope this helps...and a clear understanding of conflic will help you to enjoy literature more. Happy reading!

Answer 6

here you go