7

English
Quarter 4 – Module 5:

Types of Conflict in Literature

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VII at deped.bohol@deped.gov.ph

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 What I Need to Know

This module is designed and written to help you discover the

conflicts presented in literary selections and the need to resolve those
conflicts in non-violent ways. The scope of this module permits to be
used in many different learning situations. The lessons are arranged to
follow the standard sequence of the topic.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. identify the types of conflict in the selection
2. distinguish between external and internal conflicts and their sub-
categories

What I Know

Directions: Answer the given questions. Write the letter of your answer
on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What is conflict?
a. two characters getting along c. a struggle between two opposing
forces
b. the climax in a story d. part of the resolution
2. What is an example of an INTERNAL conflict?
a. character vs. character c. character vs. society
b. character vs. nature d. character vs. self

3. What do you call the conflict between two people/characters in a

story?
a. character vs. character c. character vs. society
b. character vs. nature d. character vs. self

4. What do we call when a character struggles to make the right

decision in a story?
a. character vs. character c. character vs. society
b. character vs. nature d. character vs. self

5. What is the conflict between the protagonist and the weather?

a. character vs. character c. character vs. society
b. character vs. nature d. character vs. self

Lesson

1 Types of Conflict in Literature

What’s In

Activity 1: Directions: Look at the pictures below. Answer the given

questions. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper .

https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+of+children+quarreling

1. What happen in the pictures?

2. What is the reason of their conflict?

 3. Have you also experienced in conflict with your friends? How did
you resolve the conflict?

What’s New

Activity 2: Directions: Below is an image of the story The Little Red

Riding Hood. Answer the question that follows. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

the Wolf

Red Riding Hood

https://www.google.com.ph/search?
q=protagonist+vs+antagonist+clipart

Who is the protagonist in the picture? the antagonist?

What Is It

In literature, conflict is a literary element that involves a struggle

between two opposing forces, usually a protagonist and an antagonist.
Protagonist - the central character or leading figure in poetry, narrative,
novel or any other story. A protagonist is sometimes a “hero” to the
audience or readers.
Antagonist – the character, or a group of characters, which stands in
opposition to the protagonist. It is common to refer to an antagonist as a
villain (the bad guy), against whom a Hero (the good guy) fights in order
to save himself or others.

Types of Conflict
1. Internal Conflict- a struggle that takes place in a character's mind
- NOT a visual or tangible opposition
- a character dealing with his or her own mixed feelings or emotions
Example: A character may have to decide between right and wrong or
between two solutions to a problem.
Internal Conflict Sub-Category
• Character vs. Self- Internal conflict is often referred to as
character vs. self because the struggle is inside one’s head.
2. External Conflict- a struggle between a character and an outside
force
- Characters may face several types of outside forces.
-The outside force may be another character. It may be
the character and/or his or her community (society).
Example: The main character is struggling against the storm.
External Conflict Sub-Categories
• Character vs. Character- This is mostly seen in the form of two
characters against each other.
It does not have to be a physical confrontation; it can be a battle
between two ideas.
• Character vs. Nature or Environment- Environment is defined as
anything surrounding a person. This can include weather, objects,
activities. Basically, anything external EXCEPT people.
• Character vs. Society- In societies and communities there are a
set of laws and rules that he/she must abide by. Some of these rules are
enforced by laws and some are social rules that are a code of behavior.
He/ She must follow these rules and laws in order to avoid conflict within
his or her own community.
• Character vs. Supernatural- the main character resists forces
that are not of this world. He or she may battle monsters or strange
creatures. He or she may challenge beings with magical powers. Or he
or she may encounter hostile aliens.
• Character vs. Technology- the main character resists
technological forces. He or she may battle cellular phones or computers.
Or he or she may just struggle to accept or use the technology of a
changing world.

What’s More

Activity 3: Directions: Read each scenario below. Identify the sub-category

of conflict in literature. Choose your answer from the word pool. Write the
letter of the correct answer on a separate sheet of paper. Number one is
done for you.

a. character vs. character

b. character vs. nature
c. character vs. society
d. character vs. supernatural
e. character vs. technology

1. A Grade-7 student who competes in the Essay Writing Contest with

thirty participating schools
Answer: a
2. A young African American girl who goes to a White Elementary
School at the onset of the Civil Rights movement
3. A little boy who is afraid of the thunderstorm and lightning
4. A policeman who comes face to face with the criminal who killed his
father
5. A college student who loses interest in his studies and is hooked with
his cellular phone
6. A pregnant woman who believes she is attacked by a witch

What I Have Learned

Activity 4: Directions: Read each sentence below. Write the type of

conflict and its sub-category that relates to the given sentences. Write
your answer on a separate sheet of paper. Number one is done for
you.

Type of Conflict Sub-Category

Internal character vs. self

External character vs. character

character vs. society
character vs. nature
character vs. supernatural
character vs. technology

1. John does not like the way Paul speaks to him.

Answer: External; character vs. character
2. Matthew was frustrated with himself for forgetting his wallet.
3. The campers had to brace the freezing cold in the mountains.
4. Luke’s computer games control his life.
5. Mark was rocked by a storm in the sea.
6. Simon disagreed the new law in his town.
 What I Can Do

Activity 5: Directions: Read each sentence carefully. Identify the

protagonist, antagonist and the sub-category of conflict. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper. Number one is done for you.
1. Jacob has a problem with termites.
Answer: Protagonist: Jacob
Antagonist: termites
Type of Conflict: character vs. nature
2. A witch confronts Diego and his friends.
3. Magdalene has an internal struggle with her own self-worth.
4. Linda is competing against Bruce.
5. Ruth bypasses the security measures on her computer system.

Assessment

Activity 6: Directions: Read each situation below. Write the letter of

the correct answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Tommy was late to the concert since the road was flooded and he
had to take a detour. What type of conflict is this?
a. Internal conflict c. Fraternal conflict
b. External conflict d. Mental conflict

2. Angela is having the time of her life on a cruise ship with food and fun
all around her. Just as she is preparing for the limbo competition, the
ship crashes into an iceberg, which punctures the hull and causes the
ship to sink. Identify the type of conflict.
a. character vs. nature c. character vs. technology
 b. character vs. society d. character vs. character
3. Jasmine hit Andrew with a ball on purpose. This is an example of:
a. Internal conflict c. Fraternal conflict
b. External conflict d. Mental conflict
4. After breaking her mother’s favorite vase, Casey struggles to decide
whether she should tell her mother the truth or hide her mistake. What
type of conflict is presented?
a. character vs. nature c. character vs. technology
b. character vs. society d. character vs. self
5. Ella and her family transferred to a new house, but they later knew
that the house was inhabited by bad spirits. What type of conflict is this?
a. character vs. nature c. character vs. technology
b. character vs. supernatural d. character vs. self

Additional Activities

Activity 7: Directions: Recall a movie or a teleserye that you have

watched. Identify the protagonist, antagonist, type and sub-category of
conflict of that said movie or teleserye. Write your answer on a separate
sheet of paper.
Title of the Movie/ Teleserye: _____________________________
Protagonist: _____________________________
Antagonist: _____________________________
Type of Conflict: _____________________________
Sub-Category: _____________________________