In 300 words or less, Identify a conflict from "The Most Dangerous Game," Identify what type It Is, and explain why It is Important to the story's overall themes.

One of the conflicts in "The Most Dangerous Game" is that of man vs man.

Explanation:

This is an external type of conflict and is important for it plays the most important role in the story, bringing forward the plot as well as changing the attitude and outlook of the protagonist.

Further Explanation:

Richard Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game" tells the story of how a reputed hunter Sanger Rains ford became a victim of his own sport. This changed his outlook on how he approaches his prey and brought about a different aspect of human nature that is in conflict between the characters.

General Zaroff had been living in his island, enjoying the sport of hunting 'weaker' humans that he himself had invented. Rains ford had been unfortunately left behind from the ship he was sailing to another hunting expedition. This island that he was stranded belonged to Zaroff who, as we come to know later, wanted Rains ford to be his new prey. Thus began the game, Rainsford hiding and running away from Zaroff to escape and get his freedom if he survives three days. Zaroff had expected to kill him but couldn't easily. Thus was the start of the man vs man conflict, with each man fighting for his own skin and trying to outdo the other. Rainsford managed to kill Ivan, trusted aide of the Colonel and also one of his hounds, while also wounding Zaroff himself.

The final conflict began when Colonel Zaroff conceded defeat, allowing Rainsford to go safely but Rainsford instead wants to finish the game, but this time, he will also be hunting him and whoever wins, will sleep in the bed in the mansion. This man vs man conflict ended only when Rainsford killed Zaroff, ending the story with Rainsford saying that"he had never slept in a better bed", which implies that he had won the game and killed Zaroff.

This type of conflict is external for it involves the participation of two characters, pitted against each other but at the same time, of the same nature. This conflict is important for it pushes forward the plot of the story, bringing into the fore the theme of hunting (hunter-hunted relationship) and the clashing of philosophies and morality, even involving the physical dispute. The external force presented by Zaroff and his men against the lone Rainsford proves a right scene for an external conflict, which resulted in the inferior force defeating the superior power.  

21 balloons is the story of professor william sherman's travels.

in 1883, he set off from san francisco for a balloon ride over the pacific and was found a month later floating with 21 balloons in the atlantic ocean. this seemed an astounding feat and everyone wanted to know what had happened.    

professor sherman was loyal, however, and said he would tell his tale first to the western american explorers club in san francisco, of which he was a member. this built up suspense for several chapters before he began to tell of the wonders of his adventures and the amazing island of krakatoa, an island which had just been blown up by a volcano.  

the residents of krakatoa are all millionaires who live under a "gourmet government" of their own devising. we get to see all the incredible adventures that creative people with unlimited resources would create according to the author.