Understanding Protagonist and Antagonist Conflict Elements in Stories

1. Conflict and Setting

2. Elements of a Story

3. Protagonist • The protagonist is the main character in a literary work.  He or she is usually seen as good, upright, respectable, and always attempting to take the proper course of action.  However, the protagonist is not always good.  • Katniss has many qualities in The Hunger Games that are not respectable or “good,” yet she is still the protagonist as she is the main character of the book.

4. Antagonist • The antagonist in a literary work stands in opposition to the protagonist.  In most novels, the protagonists and antagonists will be clearly distinct and remain consistent. • In general, the antagonist will be viewed as bad, wicked, or malicious.  Even if dominated by negative traits, however, the antagonist can be just as significant and complex a character as the protagonist. • Ex. Cato, President Snow, etc.

5. Conflict • Conflict aka "the Hook": A struggle between two opposing characters or forces

6. Character’s Struggle Against Nature • Man vs. Nature • When a character must overcome some natural obstacle or condition, a conflict with nature occurs. • Floods, snowstorms, insects, and animals may all constitute a conflict with nature. Also, things like famine or disease are conflicts with nature. • Katniss vs. starving to death in The Hunger Games.

7. Character’s Struggle Against an Antagonist • Man vs. Man • A struggle between two people • Katniss vs. Cato

8. Character’s Struggle Against Society • Man vs. Society • A struggle against society occurs when a character is at odds with a particular social force or condition produced by society, such as poverty, political revolution, a social convention, or set of values. • Katniss vs. the Capitol and its values; Katniss vs. The Hunger Games

9. Internal Conflict • Man vs. Himself • Within a character, aspects of his or her personality may struggle for dominance. These aspects may be emotional, intellectual, or moral. • Such conflicts typically leave the character indecisive and agitated. When such conflicts are resolved, the resolution may be successful or unsuccessful. • Katniss vs. herself when trying to decide whether or not Peeta loves her

10. Setting • The story’s time and place. • Includes simple attributes (climate or wall décor) or complex dimensions (historical moment the story occupies or its significant cultural issues). • Setting is often developed with narrative description, but it may also be shown with action, dialogue, or a character’s thoughts.  • One of the primary ways that a fiction writer establishes mood(the underlying feeling or atmosphere produced by a story )