If you are preparing for an examination in literature, you should study and revise all the different aspects of this subject. Among topics, you should be familiar with the plot, themes, leitmotifs, power and conflict. The examiner will test you in these key elements and more. Power and conflict revision is vital if you want to make an excellent grade in the examination. Now, it does not matter if you are studying Shakespeare, Kafka or Miguel de Unamuno. Literature is a reflection of life and this is why conflict is present in most literary works. Below are some things you should know about conflict.
What is Conflict?
In the world of literature, conflict is simply a literary device that is characterized by a struggle between opposing forces. The purpose of the conflict is to drive the narrative and develop the story line. Conflict makes a work of literature and exciting and this is why it is an important device. In some cases, the conflict is between the protagonist and the antagonist (person to person conflict). In other cases, you have a protagonist in perpetual conflict with himself or against the elements.
External Conflict vs. Internal Conflict
It is important to point out that conflict falls into two major categories. These are internal conflict and external conflict. When characters in a literary work struggle with their own beliefs and desires, this is called internal conflict. On the other hand, external conflict refers to a situation where characters struggle against external forces or factors beyond their control. Both internal and external conflict help to drive the story line and make the work engaging. Below are some examples of conflict but this list is not exhaustive.
Person vs. Fate
in this form of conflict, the character in question is struggling against supernatural forces. You find this form of conflict in classic Greek tragedies and in most cases, the gods emerge victorious in the conflict.
Person vs. Nature
This forms of conflict is very popular in many literary works. In this form of conflict, humanity comes up against the force of nature. Usually, the hero might be in a contest with certain forces of nature. Nature in this context could be a flood, an earthquake or a drought. the conflict might be on a small scale or on a large scale. At the end of the day, the protagonist could prevail against the forces of nature or get vanquished by nature.
Final Word
As you can see, conflict is an important literary device. Read this article and you will learn a few things about power and conflict revision.
