Strategies for Employing the Four Stages of Dispute to Bolster Your Narrative
In the action-packed world of Die Hard, John McClane's character shines as a beacon of resilience and determination. But what makes him such an engaging protagonist? It's all about the levels of conflict that drive the story forward.
Conflict, at its core, operates on multiple layers. Recognising these layers is key to understanding how they collectively drive a story's tension and character development.
- Central conflict (Level 1) is the main, overarching problem the protagonist faces throughout the story, often unresolved until the climax. In Die Hard, John McClane's central conflict is to stop the terrorists and save everyone in the building, while also handling other immediate dangers and challenges.
- Story-level or macro conflict (Level 2) refers to big challenges or threats that persist over time, which the protagonist must manage alongside more immediate issues. The building being taken over in Die Hard makes John's goal of stopping Hans and protecting his wife seem futile.
- Scene-level or micro conflict (Level 3) involves moment-to-moment problems and confrontations within individual scenes. Conflict at the scene level comes in the form of as-it-happens clashes, threats, obstacles, and challenges that get between the character and their goal.
- Internal conflict (Level 4) involves the protagonist’s inner struggles with emotions, beliefs, or moral dilemmas, influencing their decisions and growth. John's internal conflict in Die Hard revolves around putting himself or others first.
Strong storytelling intertwines these levels, with large conflicts broken into smaller scene tasks and internal struggles influencing external actions, making the narrative layered and dynamic.
Six different forms of central conflict define classic ways characters can be challenged:
| Conflict Type | Description | Example | |------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------| | Character vs. Character | Protagonist struggles against another character, often an antagonist. | Die Hard: McClane vs. terrorists | | Character vs. Society | Protagonist confronts societal norms, laws, or collective beliefs. | The Hunger Games: Katniss vs. the Capitol | | Character vs. Nature | Protagonist battles natural forces like weather, animals, or disasters. | Getting trapped by a storm or perilous wilderness | | Character vs. Technology | Conflict with machines, artificial intelligence, or technology systems. | Sci-fi battles against AI or malfunctioning tech | | Character vs. Supernatural| Conflict with ghosts, gods, magical forces, or unknown powers beyond scientific explanation. | Stories involving ghosts or mystical beings | | Character vs. Self | Internal conflict with personal doubts, fears, moral questions, or identity crises. | Hamlet’s hesitation; a character battling self-doubt |
By consciously structuring conflict at multiple levels and across these six forms, writers craft richer, more engaging stories where characters grow while facing meaningful, escalating challenges.
For writers seeking to craft their own compelling stories, resources like Angela Ackerman's book, The Conflict Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles, can provide invaluable guidance. Ackerman, a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author, is known for her pay-it-forward initiatives and teaching, empowering writers across the globe.
Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, understanding and effectively using conflict in your storytelling is key to creating engaging, dynamic narratives that captivate readers and leave a lasting impact.
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