Day 8: Conflict in Fiction Lesson Plan
Identify the engine of every story: Conflict. In Day 8 of the Grade 9 English course, students dive into the essential types of conflict in fiction, distinguishing between internal and external struggles. This lesson serves as the final step in building the literary devices glossary and prepares students for the upcoming short story unit.
Time: 75 Minutes | Key Concepts: External Conflict, Internal Conflict, Character vs. Self, Character vs. Society
Learning Goals and Standards
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Define conflict as the central problem or struggle in a story
- Distinguish between internal and external conflict
- Identify common types of conflict (character vs. character, self, nature, society, etc.)
- Explain how conflict drives plot development
- Analyze how conflict reveals character motivation and theme
Aligned Global Competencies / Standards / ELA Curriculum
This lesson supports international secondary English expectations such as:
Ontario Curriculum Alignment (ENL1W)
Strand A: Literacy Connections and Applications — Applying knowledge of literary elements such as conflict to interpret texts (A1.2)
Strand B: Foundations of Language — Using appropriate literary terminology to explain how meaning is created in texts (B2.1)
Common Core (Grades 9–10 Reading Literature)
Analyze how complex characters develop in response to conflict and interact with events to shape the plot (RL.9–10.3)
IB Language & Literature (ATL Skills)
Develop interpretive strategies for analyzing character motivation and narrative tension
Cambridge IGCSE English Literature
Recognize how writers structure conflict to shape meaning and reader engagement
OECD Global Competence Framework
Interpret competing perspectives and motivations represented in texts
UNESCO Literacy Framework
Strengthen interpretive reading by analyzing challenges faced by characters and their responses
Resources for Conflict in Fiction
No additional resources – same as previous lessons.
Bell Ringer for Conflict in Fiction
“What Does the Character Want?” (5 minutes)
Write this scenario on the board:
A student studies hard for a test but begins to panic halfway through.
Ask students:
- What does the character want?
- What is stopping them?
- Is this conflict internal or external?
Then follow with:
A student argues with a friend about who is responsible for a mistake.
Ask again:
What changed?
Students quickly see that conflict always begins with a goal and an obstacle, which helps them identify conflict more reliably in stories.
Lesson Flow and Content
1. Silent Reading (15 minutes)
As always, begin class with 15 minutes of silent reading. Students should continue logging important details in their reading logs, paying special attention to moments of conflict in their stories.
2. Finish the Literary Terms Glossary
Today, complete the glossary with the final set of terms. Students can either copy down the provided definitions or research them on their own, depending on your approach:
Rhetorical Question – A question asked for effect, not for an actual answer.
Sentence Structure – The arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence.
Simile – A comparison using “like” or “as.”
Symbolism – Using symbols to represent larger ideas.
Synecdoche – A figure of speech where a part represents the whole (e.g., “all hands on deck”).
Tone – The writer’s attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice and style.
3. Mini-Lesson: Conflict in Fiction
Have students copy the following notes into their notebooks. These can serve as a reference for the rest of the course.
Notes on Conflict in Fiction
Conflict = the struggle between opposing forces. It drives the plot forward and creates interest.
Two Main Types of Conflict:
External Conflict – A struggle between a character and an outside force.
Character vs. Character – One character in opposition to another.
Character vs. Nature – Struggles with natural forces (storms, animals, environment).
Character vs. Society – Conflict against rules, laws, traditions, or expectations.
Character vs. Technology – A struggle with machines, inventions, or modern advancements.
Character vs. Fate/Supernatural – A battle against destiny, gods, or otherworldly forces.
Internal Conflict – A struggle within the character’s own mind.
Character vs. Self – Internal battles with emotions, decisions, or desires.
First-Hand Suggestions
When I teach conflict, I focus on helping students see that every story begins with someone wanting something and something getting in the way. Once students start identifying what a character wants and what blocks that goal, they recognize conflict much more easily and begin connecting it naturally to plot, character decisions, and theme.
Differentiation
For Students with IEPs
- Provide a visual chart of internal vs. external conflict types
- Use short scenarios instead of longer passages
- Model one example together before independent practice
- Highlight the character’s goal before identifying the obstacle
- Allow verbal responses instead of written explanations
For English Language Learners
Pre-teach core vocabulary:
| Term | Student-Friendly Meaning |
|---|---|
| conflict | a problem in the story |
| goal | what the character wants |
| obstacle | what blocks the character |
| internal conflict | a problem inside the character |
| external conflict | a problem outside the character |
Strategies:
- Use images or short film clips to demonstrate conflicts
- Provide sentence frames:
- “The character wants…”
- “The problem is…”
- Allow sorting activities instead of written analysis
- Practice with familiar movie or folktale examples first
Conflict in Fiction FAQ
What is the difference between internal and external conflict? Internal conflict (Character vs. Self) takes place inside a character’s mind, involving emotional or ethical struggles. External conflict occurs between a character and an outside force, such as another person, nature, or society.
Why is conflict essential in fiction? Conflict is the engine of the plot. Without a struggle between opposing forces, there is no tension, no character growth, and no reason for the story to move forward toward a resolution.
How does this lesson fit the Ontario ENL1W curriculum? This Day 8 lesson addresses Strands A, B & C by teaching students to identify and analyze the narrative elements that contribute to the meaning and impact of a text.
Previous Lesson: Learning About Character
Next Lesson: Literary Terms Quiz and POV
