Literary Conflict in A Wrinkle in Time

Storyboarding is an excellent way to focus on types of literary conflicts.

Having students create storyboards that show the cause and effect of different types of conflicts strengthens analytical thinking about literary concepts. 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.

Examples of Literary Conflict in A Wrinkle in Time

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MAN vs. MAN

Meg struggles to get along with her peers. On the way home from school, she gets into a fight with a classmate who calls Charles Wallace "dumb".

MAN vs. SELF

Meg struggles with self-doubt. She believes she is a failure academically and socially. When she is called upon to face IT on Camazotz, she must overcome her doubts in order to succeed.

MAN vs. SOCIETY

On Camazotz, all citizens are expected to act and think the same. The young boy who bounces his ball out of rhythm is forced to practice bouncing it properly at CENTRAL Central Intelligence. With each bounce, he feels a stab of pain as punishment.

MAN vs. SUPERNATURAL

The Murrys, Calvin, and the three Mrs. W's are all fighting an evil supernatural force. Throughout the book, this evil is represented in multiple ways: the Dark Thing, the Man with the Red Eyes, and IT. The protagonists use love and hope to fight this evil, but they cannot destroy it completely.

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that shows at least three forms of literary conflict in A Wrinkle in Time.

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