There are many types of conflict that can be in short stories. Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces. Conflict supplements the energy of the story as demonstrated by the plot. There are four major types of conflict in short stories. A short story may have one or many. Here are the types of conflict:
Person vs. Person:
The story focuses on a conflict between characters, such as ( protagonist vs. antagonist )
Person vs. Society:
A character confronts not just one person but also a group of people, the group can be either small or very large. Think of civil rights protesters, or a new employee at a store, Stealing from a register.
Person vs. Nature:
A character conflicts with an impersonal natural force or combination of forces. Think of a fire fighter, or a sailor's boat sinking.
Person vs. Self:
A character experiences an internal conflict, think of torn by guilt, or fighting an addiction (Smoking)
Remember: A "person" can be any character that has human characteristics...A talking bear, or an alien.
Person vs. Person:
The story focuses on a conflict between characters, such as ( protagonist vs. antagonist )
Person vs. Society:
A character confronts not just one person but also a group of people, the group can be either small or very large. Think of civil rights protesters, or a new employee at a store, Stealing from a register.
Person vs. Nature:
A character conflicts with an impersonal natural force or combination of forces. Think of a fire fighter, or a sailor's boat sinking.
Person vs. Self:
A character experiences an internal conflict, think of torn by guilt, or fighting an addiction (Smoking)
Remember: A "person" can be any character that has human characteristics...A talking bear, or an alien.