What Is Conflict in Literature?
In literature, a conflict is a literary device characterized by a struggle between two opposing forces. 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. Self
This is an internal conflict, meaning that the opposition the character faces is coming from within. This may entail a struggle to discern what the moral or “right” choice is, or it may also encompass mental health struggles. All other types of conflict are external—meaning that a character comes up against an outside force that creates the conflict.
(Click on the link to get all six)
..... All stories feature some kind of conflict that the characters must face and overcome. This not only drives the story forward but also gives readers an insight into the main characters’ actions and motivations. A good piece of fiction writing will be full of unforeseen tensions, competition, and power struggles. Nonfiction writing also benefits from conflict drawn from everyday situations and people that are central to the narrative.....
lLearn more about creating conflict in writing from bestselling author Dan Brown in his MasterClass](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/dan-brown-teaches-writing-thrillers).