External conflict Notes

External Conflict

1. (or: when the problem is no longer just in someone’s head)

2. Sometimes a character’s struggle is quiet and internal. Other times, the problem shows up very clearly in the outside world.
3. This is called external conflict.
4. External conflict is when a character comes into conflict with something outside themselves, such as another person, a group, or a situation they cannot control.

1. What is external conflict?

1. It happens when a character:
   1. argues with or opposes another character
   2. clashes with rules, expectations, or authority
   3. struggles against a difficult situation or environment
   4. is blocked from achieving a goal by something external
2. In simple terms, external conflict is when a character thinks:

   1. “Something is stopping me.”

2. Why external conflict matters

1. External conflict:
   1. drives the plot forward
   2. creates tension and drama
   3. reveals character traits through action
   4. shows how motivation turns into behaviour
2. What a character does during external conflict often matters more than what they say.

3. Common types of external conflict

Character vs character

1. A character clashes with another person who wants something different.

Character vs authority or society

1. A character struggles against rules, traditions, or expectations.

Character vs situation

1. A character faces circumstances they cannot easily change.

4. How writers show external conflict

1. Writers make external conflict clear through:
   1. Dialogue
      1. Arguments, disagreements, or confrontational language
   2. Actions
      1. Physical reactions, refusal to cooperate, or resistance
   3. Power dynamics
      1. Who has control and who does not
   4. Setting and situation
      1. Places or events that create pressure or opposition

5. External conflict and character traits

1. External conflict reveals traits very quickly.
2. For example:
   1. a confident character confronts others directly
   2. an insecure character avoids confrontation
   3. a stubborn character refuses to back down
   4. a compassionate character tries to resolve conflict peacefully
3. Traits shape how a character handles opposition.

6. External conflict and motivation

1. External conflict exists because motivations clash.
2. Ask:
   1. What does the character want?
   2. What does the opposing force want?
   3. Why can both sides not succeed at the same time?
3. External conflict often forces characters to make choices that expose their priorities.

7. Using PEEL to analyse external conflict

You can analyse external conflict clearly using PEEL.

P: Point

1. Identify the external conflict.
   1. Who or what is the character in conflict with?

E: Evidence

1. Use:
   1. a line of dialogue
   2. a key action
   3. a moment of confrontation

E: Explain

1. Explain:
   1. what this reveals about the character’s traits
   2. how motivation drives the conflict

L: Link

1. Link to:
   1. how the conflict affects the plot
   2. the message or idea the writer is exploring

8. Now it's your turn...