Decoding the Six Conflicts in Literature (With Examples)

Decoding the Six Conflicts in Literature (With Examples) Conflict is part of the narrative arc and does much to connect readers to a story or a storys characters. It involves problems or obstacles that arise within a story- both internal (or in a characters mind) and external (caused by other characters or forces). Since all readers are familiar with conflict in their own lives, it helps to deepen engagement with a story or character and provide deeper meaning to the story.While there is some disagreement about how many types of conflict are evident in literature, the most commonly accepted number is six different types. These include: Man vs. Self, Man vs. Man, Man vs. Society, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Technology, and Man vs. Fate (or the Supernatural.) Its important to point out that in these literary terms, Man insinuates Human, so it isnt limited to the male gender.Man vs. SelfMan vs. Self is the only example of internal conflict youll see in literary works and involves a character experiencing conflict within his or her own mind. Hamle t is probably the most well-known literary character experiencing Man vs. Self conflict throughout much of the famous Shakespearian play. A good example of how Shakespeare uses this conflict for character building are the following lines:To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, tis a consummation Devoutly to be wishd. To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, theres the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause: theres the respect That makes calamity of so long life.HamletMan vs. Self conflict is most often seen when a character faces mixed emotions over his or her actions, or a decision that has to be made/has been made. You can also see this conflict evident when a character is facing mental illness or is unable to forgive himself or herself over past actions.Man vs. ManMan vs. Man is commonly seen in literature and modern storytelling and is a type of external conflict. This conflict will most often play out between a protagonist and his or her antagonist, although it can also appear between friends or acquaintances, as well.A famous example from literature of Man vs. Man conflict is in the opening paragraph of The Cask of Amontillado, a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe.The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled- but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wron g is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.The Cask of AmontilladoIn these opening lines, the narrator, Montresor, establishes his conflict with another man named Fortunato. This story also involves internal conflict (Montresor is what is known as an unreliable narrator, and the reader isnt quite sure how much of Montresors claims they can trust).Man vs. SocietyThis type of conflict is often seen in Science Fiction and is an external conflict that involves a protagonist at odds with a ruling body (which could be ones family), or social or cultural norms. For example, if the protagonist is fighting his or her government, or is accused of a crime he or she didnt commit, these would be examples of Man vs. Society as conflict. If a protagonist is going against the grain of what his or her society and people expect, this is also an example of Man vs. Society conflic t.An example of Man vs. Society conflict can be seen in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter, in which the main character, Hester Prynne, is shunned by her people, the Puritans, for having a baby with a man who was not her husband (who has been lost at sea). Below is a quote that summarizes this struggle:No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.The Scarlet LetterMan vs. NatureIf youve read a story or seen a movie where the main character must face some sort of storm or event that happens as a force of nature (such as an animal attack), youve seen the Man vs. Nature conflict in action. Natural disasters like tornadoes or a character who is lost at sea and trying to find land are examples of this conflict, as well. In these stories, the concept of human survival despite the forces of nature is highlighted and in many cases, youll also find the internal conflict of M an vs. Self playing out simultaneously. A large reason for this is that nature can be significantly more powerful than humanity, so there is much self-doubt and struggle as the protagonist comes to terms with this fact.A great example of the Man vs. Nature conflict from literature is Ernest Hemingways The Old Man and the Sea.He always thought of the sea as la mar which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her. Sometimes those who love her say bad things of her but they are always said as though she were a woman. Some of the younger fishermen, those who used buoys as floats for their lines and had motorboats, bought when the shark livers had brought much money, spoke of her as el mar which is masculine.They spoke of her as a contestant or a place or even an enemy. But the old man always thought of her as feminine and as something that gave or withheld great favours, and if she did wild or wicked things it was because she could not help them. The moon affects her as it do es a woman, he thought.The Old Man and the SeaMan vs. TechnologyAnother popular conflict seen in Science Fiction is Man vs. Technology, which is when a protagonist is facing machines or technology (such as mechanical failure or robots) and must prevail against it. In many cases, youll see elements of Man vs. Society conflict happening within these same stories, as the technology is often used to enforce or maintain social and cultural norms.A great example from literature of the Man vs. Technology conflict is Philip K. Dicks Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, a book which inspired the cult hit movie, Blade Runner. Heres a quote from it:Do you have information that theres an android in the cast? Id be glad to help you, and if I were an android would I be glad to help you? An android, he said, doesnt care what happens to another android. Thats one of the indications we look for. Then, Miss Luft said, you must be an android.Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?Man vs. Fate or the Sup ernaturalYoull find Man vs. Fate conflict often throughout ancient literature, particularly Greek myth and Arthurian lore. Youll even see it a lot in Shakespearean plays. Man vs. Fate or Man vs. the Supernatural is a conflict that occurs when the protagonist finds himself or herself pitted against a vengeful god or powerful supernatural force. As with other types of conflict, particularly Man vs. Nature, youll often see this one combined with the Man vs. Self struggle. This is because the protagonist must come to terms with his or her own humanity and limitations when involved in a Man vs. Fate conflict.A perfect example of this conflict from literature would be Homers The Odyssey, in which Odysseus, on his way home from the Trojan War, encounters a range of supernatural forces and beings attempting to stall him. Heres a good quote:Ah how shameless- the way these mortals blame the gods. From us alone they say come all their miseries yes but they themselves with their own reckless wa ys compound their pains beyond their proper share.The Odyssey

College Application Essay

College Application Essay A college application essay is a subtype of a reflective essay. A  college application essay  is a subtype of a reflective essay. It is similar to reflective essays because it requires its author (i.e. the applicant) to tell the application committee about himself or   herself, describe his or her inner world, tell how a significant person or an event has impacted him or her to contributed to his growth as a personality – and do it all within 500 words or less. The five hundred words of a college application essay can make a difference in the decision process, so this is a task that has to be done right the first time. Your story should sound natural while being convincing. If you are serious, write in a serious tone; if you have a good sense of humor, insert a joke here and there – the main point is that your college application essay should sound neither too grave nor too funny. Top 3 Tips on How to Write a College Application Essay   TIP 1. Use of quotes and wise sayings is generally discouraged. Speak in your words, not someone else’s.   TIP 2. Don’t go too deep into philosophy, make your essay simple and easy to understand. TIP 3. Keep it simple. Try to use simple sentences; avoid making them too verbose and unclear. The general rule of thumb is – in your college application essay you should: write naturally; explain the process of your personal growth; tell how an event or a person has affected and changed you; how you can contribute to the teaching institution. At many competitive colleges, the college application essay is a very important part of the application process. The college application essay gives the application committee a chance to know the applicant a little better and gets insight that may not be available elsewhere on the application. COLLEGE ESSAY Yet understandably, high school students frequently have a lot of questions about the college application essay. How should I get started? What should I write about? What are colleges looking for? In what format or style should I write? We have got resources to help you answer all of those questions and to guide you through the process of putting together a great college application essay. 7 Steps You Should Take  to Write a Stunning Essay Step 1.  Be prepared Before you start the essay-writing process, learn everything you can about the college application essay. Step 2. If possible, meet with someone Schedule a meeting with your guidance counselor, if you have one, to talk about what essays you will need to write and how to approach them strategically. If you do not have a counselor, or he or she is unlikely to help with the essays, you should look at some college application (including the common application) to give yourself an idea of what you are up against. If you are thinking about hiring an outside application consultant or essay assistant, we suggest you order an essay with us, so that you can also get help with the brainstorming process. Step 3. Find a topic This is arguably the most important part of the essay-writing process. Your topic selection will say a lot about what is important to you  and will determine how meaningful, interesting, impressive, and intimate your essay can be. Step 4. Think about essay planning and essay structure Once you have got a topic, you need to decide how you are going to set up your college essay. Some of this may come as you write, but it makes sense to have a plan before you start writing. Step 5. Write your first draft Once you are ready to write and understand how you are going to approach your college application essay, the next step is to actually write. Let your creativity run the show, but do not forget about the basic principles of good writing. Put a draft down on paper and see how you do. If you are happy with it, and you have time to spare, you should probably put your college application essay in a drawer for a while and forget about it. This will help you have a fresh perspective when you are ready to revise and edit. Step 6. Revise and edit However good your first draft may have been, it should get a lot better with some serious revision. Pay attention to grammar, usage, and punctuation, of course, but do not forget to look at the content and other, more substantive, issues. If anything in your college application essay does not strike you as great, work on it until it is! Step 7.  Get some essay writing help! Whether or not you are going to use a guidance counselor or outside counseling service, you should get someone to look over your essays preferably someone who is a great writer and has some experience with the application process.