Conflict
is a struggle between opposing forces that causes the action of the story. It
is most visible between two or more characters, usually
a protagonist and an antagonist, but can occur in many different
forms. A character may as easily find himself or herself in conflict with a
natural force, such as an animal or a weather event, like a hurricane. The
literary purpose of conflict is to create tension in the story, making readers
more interested by leaving them uncertain which of the characters or forces
will exist. There may be multiple points of conflict in a single story, as
characters may have more than one desire or may struggle against more than one
opposing force. When a conflict is resolved and the reader discovers which
force or character succeeds, it creates a sense of closure. Conflict may be internal or
external, it may occur within a character's mind or between a character.
Example:
Joe the bank robber is having an external conflict with his partner Dave who
wants more money while also having an internal conflict with himself about
having to kill his lifelong friend Dave for his greed.
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