Types of Conflict for Kids: The Struggles That Drive a Story (Grade 6 and 7 English)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Today we are learning about conflict. Conflict is the struggle or problem a character faces. Without conflict, nothing much would happen. It is the engine that drives every story forward.

There are two big families of conflict. External conflict is a struggle with something outside the character. Internal conflict is a struggle inside the character's own mind, like fear or a hard choice.

Character against character is an external conflict between two people. Two rivals compete for the same prize, or a hero faces a bully. One person's goal blocks the other's.

Character against nature means fighting a force of the natural world, like a storm, a wild animal or surviving in the wilderness. Character against society means standing up to unfair rules or a whole community.

Character against technology is a newer type, where a character struggles with machines, robots or inventions. And character against self is the internal one, where someone battles their own fears, doubts or temptations.

Many stories have more than one conflict. A girl lost in a snowstorm fights nature, but she may also fight her own panic. The way characters respond to conflict reveals who they are.

Now it's your turn. Diego wants to try out for the play, but he is terrified of being on stage. He keeps changing his mind. What type of conflict is this? Pause and try. It is character against self.

Great job! Conflict is the struggle that drives a story. External conflicts include character against character, nature, society and technology. Internal conflict is character against self. Practice types of conflict in the English Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!