Literary Conflict Adapted Packet
Grade 8 ELA • Story Elements Visual Reference Sheet
Conflict in Literature
Anchor Chart
What is Conflict?
A conflict is a big problem or struggle in a story. Every story has one!
Story Rule
NO CONFLICT =
NO STORY
Inside the Character
INTERNAL CONFLICT
Feelings, fear, guilt, or hard choices inside the heart.
Outside the Character
EXTERNAL CONFLICT
Fighting another person, nature, machine, or rule.
The 6 Types of Story Conflict
Character vs. Character
Two characters fight, argue, or disagree with each other.
Clue: yelling, fistfight, rival
Character vs. Nature
Fighting wild weather, animals, or illness/disease in the body.
Clue: storm, bear, sickness
Character vs. Supernatural
Fighting magical forces, gods, aliens, monsters, or ghosts.
Clue: spell, Greek god, UFO
Character vs. Machine
Fighting technology, computers, robots, or smartphones.
Clue: robot, iPad, screen control
Character vs. Society
Fighting community rules, unfair laws, prejudice, or traditions.
Clue: whole town, unfair rule
Character vs. Self (Internal)
Fighting personal fears, guilt, sadness, or a hard decision.
Clue: scared, cannot choose
The Conflict Sentence Formula
Character WANTS something, BUT a big problem stops them.
Example: Cinderella wants to dance at the ball, BUT her stepmother locks her inside.
Unit: The Outsiders & Conflict Page 1 of 5 • Reference Guide
Part 1: Identify the Conflict
Grade 8 ELA
Name:
Date:
Period:
Directions: Use screen-reader or read each story. Click or mark ONE conflict type. Scenarios 1–6
1 EXAMPLE
Don stares at his iPad all day. The screen glows. Don cannot stop watching. The computer machine controls Don's brain.
Character
Nature
Supernatural
✓ Machine
Society
Self
2
Wilbur is a friendly pig on a farm. All the humans and farmers agree on one rule: "Pigs are for bacon." Wilbur must fight the community's rule to stay alive.
Character
Nature
Supernatural
Machine
Society
Self
3
Luciana wants to sneak out of the house to see her friend. Inside her heart, she feels guilty and worried. She cannot decide what choice to make.
Character
Nature
Supernatural
Machine
Society
Self
4
A supercomputer tracks Dr. Martin every second. The computer locks his doors and tracks his money. The machine tries to control his whole life.
Character
Nature
Supernatural
Machine
Society
Self
5
A man speaks up in a huge crowd for a new leader. Every person in the crowd stares at him with disgust and anger. The group rejects him.
Character
Nature
Supernatural
Machine
Society
Self
6
Terry wants to share that he is gay. His small town has strict, traditional beliefs. Terry worries the whole community will not accept him.
Character
Nature
Supernatural
Machine
Society
Self
Speech-to-Text & Partner Practice: Speak out loud or dictate: "The conflict in number ___ is ___ because ___."
Unit: The Outsiders & Conflict Page 2 of 5 • Scenarios 1–6
Part 1 (Continued): Identify the Conflict
Scenarios 7–11
Listen or read each sentence. Check or click ONE box below.
7
Jacoby wants to stay out late with his friends past midnight. His mother yells and says, "No, you must come home now!" They have a loud argument.
Character
Nature
Supernatural
Machine
Society
Self
8
Anita makes fun of the powerful Greek god Zeus. Zeus gets very angry and uses magical powers to steal Anita's voice. She wakes up unable to speak.
Character
Nature
Supernatural
Machine
Society
Self
9
Grandma gets lost driving home from the store. The doctor tells her she has a brain sickness called dementia. She must fight against this terrible disease.
Character
Nature
Supernatural
Machine
Society
Self
10
Carissa takes her friend's lottery ticket and wins $10,000. Carissa feels torn inside: "Should I keep all the money, split it, or tell the truth?"
Character
Nature
Supernatural
Machine
Society
Self
11
An airplane is falling from the sky! There are three passengers, but only two parachutes. Winnie must fight and convince the others to give her a parachute.
Character
Nature
Supernatural
Machine
Society
Self
Quick Check: Type or Dictate the Big Story Formula
1. What PROTAGONIST wants:
2. BUT ANTAGONIST wants to:
Unit: The Outsiders & Conflict Page 3 of 5 • Scenarios 7–11
Part 2: Create Your Own Conflicts
Digital Response Boxes
Directions: Type or use speech-to-text dictation to finish each sentence inside the white answer box.
Word Bank (Click or Dictate Words)
Characters: Ponyboy, Johnny, brother, bully, mom, teacher
Nature / Tech: snowstorm, wildfire, cold river, broken phone, robot
Feelings / Rules: scared, guilty, jealous, school rule, town law, ghost
12 Character vs. Character (Person vs. Person) Starter: "A teenager wants to..., but another person..."
13 Character vs. Nature (Weather / Animal / Disease) Starter: "A hiker wants to hike home, but a sudden..."
14 Character vs. Supernatural (Monster / Magic / Alien) Starter: "A kid explores an old house, but a scary..."
15 Character vs. Machine (Technology / Computer) Starter: "A student tries to submit homework, but the..."
16 Character vs. Society (Rules / Group / Law) Starter: "A student wants to wear their clothes, but the school..."
17 Character vs. Self (Feelings / Heart / Fear) Starter: "Ponyboy wants to tell the truth, but inside he feels..."
Chromebook Tip: Click inside any white box, then press your microphone key to speak your sentence!
Unit: The Outsiders & Conflict Page 4 of 5 • Digital Sentence Practice
Part 3: Pixar Short Film "Lifted"
Movie Analysis
Directions: Watch the short film Lifted. Type or dictate your answer inside each white response box.
Movie Summary & Characters
A young alien named Stu is taking a hard flying saucer driving test. A strict teacher alien named Mr. B watches him with a clipboard. Stu has to use hundreds of little switches to lift a sleeping human out of a farmhouse without hitting the walls!
👽
Stu
Student Alien
📋
Mr. B
Strict Teacher
🛸
Saucer & Buttons
Complex Machine
😴
Sleeping Man
Human Target
18 Character vs. Supernatural (Alien / UFO Power) Target: The Sleeping Human
Sentence Frame: The sleeping human wants to sleep peacefully, but an alien UFO tries to...
19 Character vs. Character (Student vs. Teacher) Target: Stu vs. Mr. B
Sentence Frame: Stu wants to impress his teacher, but Mr. B...
20 Character vs. Self (Inside Stu's Mind) Target: Stu's Emotions
Sentence Frame: Inside his mind, Stu feels... because he is afraid to...
Oral Language Share (Speaking 4.1 🗣️)
Speak into your microphone or share with a peer: "I think Stu's hardest conflict was [Internal / External] because..."
Unit: The Outsiders & Conflict Page 5 of 5 • Pixar Short "Lifted"
