Identifying Literary Conflict in A Separate Peace

Storyboarding is an excellent way to focus on types of literary conflict. Have your students choose an example of each literary conflict and depict them using the Storyboard Creator.

In the storyboard, an example of each conflict should be visually represented, along with an explanation of the scene, and how it fits the particular category of conflict.

Literary Conflict Examples

MAN vs. MAN

When Cliff Quackenbush mocks Gene and then calls him “maimed”, it hits too close to home and Gene loses it. He punches Quackenbush in the face and they fall into the river. Gene says this is the first of many battles he fights for Finny, as Finny has now become what is seen as “maimed.”

MAN vs. SELF

Gene struggles with internal conflict. Gene’s guilt about what he’s done to Finny leads him to try to make it up to him. When Finny returns to Devon, he declares that Gene will train for the 1944 Olympics in his place. Gene is happy to do something tangible to try to make up for hurting Finny physically, and hurting him in his confession to him in Boston.

MAN vs. SOCIETY

Leper goes against the constructs of society by losing his mind and going AWOL from the Army. He is unable to deal with the demands of training, which is something that is expected of all men during this time of war in the 1940s. He is also not expected to desert his post and flee to his parents’ house, which is considered both illegal, and dishonorable.

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that shows at least three forms of literary conflict in A Separate Peace.

1. Identify conflicts in A Separate Peace.
2. Categorize each conflict as Character vs. Character, Character vs. Self, Character vs. Society, Character vs. Nature, or Character vs. Technology.
3. Illustrate conflicts in the cells, using characters from the story.
4. Write a short description of the conflict below the cell.