The Giver Elements of Literature: CONFLICT Conflict results from two opposing forces in a story.  Four common types of conflict are:

• Man vs. self – a character experiences conflict between forces within himself

• Man vs. man – a character experiences a conflict with another person

• Man vs. nature – a character struggles to overcome forces of nature

• Man vs. society – a character struggles with elements of his society

Question:

Jonas went and sat beside them while his father untied Lily’s hair ribbons and combed her hair.  He placed one hand on each of their shoulders.  With all of his being he tried to give each of them a piece of the memory…But his father had continued to comb Lily’s long hair, and Lily, impatient, had finally wiggled under her brother’s touch.  “Jonas,” she said, “you’re hurting me with your hand.” 

Type

Man vs Man

Effect

Explanation

By himself, he (Jonas) tested his own developing memory.  He watched the landscape for glimpses of the green that he knew was embedded in the shrubbery; when it came flickering into his consciousness, he focused upon it, keeping it there, darkening it, holding it in his vision as long as possible until his head hurt and he let it fade away.

Type

Man vs Himself

Effect

Explanation

The sled moved forward, and Jonas grinned with delight, looking forward to the breathtaking slide down through the invigorating air. But the runners, this time, couldn’t slice through the frozen expanse as they had on the other, snow-cushioned hill.  They skittered sideways and the sled gathered speed.  Jonas pulled at the rope, trying to steer, but the steepness and speed took control from his hands and he was no longer enjoying the feeling of freedom but instead, terrified, was at the mercy of the wild acceleration downward over the ice. 

Type

Man vs Nature 

Effect

Explanation