What is External Conflict? (With Examples)

There are two different kinds of conflict in storytelling: internal and external. Now, we go into lots of detail in our definitive guide to conflict, but today, I want to focus on external conflict only.

I want to go over the definition, look at some examples, and extrapolate how it can be used in your writing.

Let’s dive in.

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External Conflict Definition

External conflict is the physical struggle between your character and outside forces, even including other characters.

These are the outside pressures slowly crushing in on your character. Things like maybe being stuck in a trash compactor, or the impending attack of a star destroyer, or being hunted by the Sith. Also, non-Star Wars related things too.

The Kinds of External Conflict 

When you’re writing external conflict, you have to think about how the outside forces are affecting your characters. Of course, they could be threatening death. But there are lots of different ways to enter that realm.

Let’s look at the types of external conflict to talk about that more.

• Character versus Character: A situation in which two characters have opposing desires or interests and they go head to head on it. Think James Bond versus Blofeld or Captain America against the Nazis.
• Character versus nature: This involves a character tormented by natural forces such as storms or animals. We see it again and again in things like Gozilla, Crawl, and even All is Lost.
• Character versus machine: We see this in futuristic movies like The Matrix and Terminator series. This is what it sounds like: characters fighting machinery to get their way.
• Character versus society: A character must take on society itself, and not a single person that is representative of it. Think about movies like Selma, Malcolm X, and even something like Soylent Green, where there’s a huge coverup going on.
• Character versus fate: Here’s where we get a little existential. This situation results from a protagonist working against something prophetic. It could be death, like in the Final Destination series, or in the fifth Harry Potter movie. This also could be more supernatural, say in something where gods could control fate, such as in ancient Greek dramas like Hercules…or even in addition to Man versus Man like in The Passion.

External Conflict Examples

Sometimes the struggle on the outside is what causes the battle on the inside.

Because basically when you’re writing a movie or TV show, you need things to go wrong. No one wants to read a script or watch a TV show about the village of happy people.

When things go wrong, usually they become conflicts on every level of the character’s life. This kicks a story into gear.

Nazis are chasing you to the Ark. E.T. needs a way to go home. Aliens have invaded Earth. And other non-Spielberg examples.

The great thing about the external variety is that they can come in all shapes and sizes. They can be the computers in The Matrix controlling the world, or they can be a nurse trying to catch Jinx, the cat in Meet the Parents.

The size of the conflict isn’t as important as the stakes, or the character facing the battle.

Here are a few more examples…

Types of External Conflict:

• Character vs. Character:
  • This is a direct conflict between two or more characters.
  • Examples:
    • Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader in Star Wars
    • Batman vs. The Joker in The Dark Knight
    • Clarice Starling vs. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs
• Character vs. Society:
  • This involves a character struggling against societal norms, laws, or institutions.
  • Examples:
    • Katniss Everdeen vs. The Capitol in The Hunger Games
    • characters in Amistad versus the society that upheld slavery.
• Character vs. Nature:
  • This is a conflict between a character and the natural world, such as weather, animals, or disasters.
  • Examples:
    • Brody vs. the shark in Jaws
    • Hugh Glass vs. the wilderness in The Revenant
• Character vs. Technology:
  • This is a conflict between a character and technological forces.
  • Examples:
    • Neo vs. the machines in The Matrix
    • Characters versus the robots in I, Robot
• Character vs. Fate/Supernatural:
  • This involves a character struggling against fate, supernatural beings, or other forces beyond their control.
  • Examples:
    • Characters in The Conjuring vs. demonic entities.
    • the priest versus the devil in The Exorcist
    • Characters versus death in the Final Destination franchise.

Summing Up External Conflict 

Now that you understand external conflict, it’s time to put it into your writing. Use it to make your characters run for their lives. Use it to find parts of yourself that show you what you’re afraid of and cause you anxiety.

And if you have questions, feel free to reach out.

Let me know what you think in the comments.