Title: Elements of Drama: Conflict | The Drama Teacher
Headings: Elements of Drama: Conflict
Elements of Drama: Conflict
Content: Here is a useful descriptor for conflict I helped write for my state curriculum authority a few years ago: Conflict generally occurs when a character cannot achieve an objective due to an obstacle. This obstacle may be internal or external – between characters or between characters and their environment. Conflict can be shown in a variety of ways, for example through physical, verbal or psychological means. Conflict can be embedded in the structure of the drama (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Drama Study Design, p.10)
As stage plays begin their life as unperformed literature, let us examine the nature of conflict from a literary perspective. Daily Writing Tips outlines seven types of narrative conflict: Person vs. Fate/God
Person vs. Self
Person vs. Person
Person vs Society
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Supernatural
Person vs. Technology
Here, Mark Nichol argues every work of literature is based on at least one of the above conflicts. Stage plays should be no different. The types of conflict listed above can be divided into internal and external conflict: Internal Conflict
Person vs Self
External Conflict
Person vs. Fate/God
Person vs. Person
Person vs Society
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Supernatural
Person vs. Technology
Inner conflict usually sees troubled characters (often the play’s protagonist) suffering from inner turmoil.