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.
Miyax’s conflict with Daniel is the spark that sets the story in motion. When Daniel threatens her, Miyax feels terrified and unsafe. This leads her to run away, ultimately getting lost in the wilderness.
Miyax is in conflict with nature when she finds herself starving in the tundra. After the lemming population dies off, the larger game leaves the area, and Miyax cannot find anything to eat. Her conflict with nature puts her in danger of death.
Guns create a conflict for Miyax when hunters come to the tundra. They shoot at her pack of wolves, killing Amaroq and wounding Kapu. The guns bring fear and sorrow into Miyax’s happy life on the tundra.
As an Eskimo, Miyax struggles to find a place in the modern world. She loves living off the land and is uncomfortable with returning to civilization. All the cities, schools, neat little houses, and modern technology make her uncomfortable. By the end of the book, “civilization [becomes a] monster” to Miyax.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows at least three forms of literary conflict in Julie of the Wolves.
Encourage students to share their interpretations of conflict scenes in small groups. Group discussions allow students to hear diverse perspectives and clarify their own thinking about the story's conflicts.
Have each group focus on one type of conflict (e.g., Character vs. Nature). Students can identify examples, discuss their importance, and report back to the class for a comprehensive understanding.
Ask students to think of situations in their own lives or current events that resemble conflicts from the book. This helps students see the relevance of literary conflicts and builds empathy.
Pose questions like, "How do you think Miyax felt during her conflict with nature?" Open-ended questions spark deeper conversation and critical thinking about character motivations and outcomes.
Julie of the Wolves features several key types of literary conflict, including Character vs. Character (Miyax vs. Daniel), Character vs. Nature (Miyax's struggle to survive in the tundra), Character vs. Technology (impact of guns on the wolf pack), and Character vs. Society (Miyax's discomfort with modern civilization). Each conflict shapes Miyax's journey and growth.
Students can use a Storyboard Creator to visually depict different conflicts from the novel. Each cell should show a specific scene, illustrate the conflict type (like Character vs. Nature), and include a brief description explaining its significance in the story.
An example of Character vs. Nature is when Miyax faces starvation in the tundra after the lemming population dies off. She must battle the harsh environment to survive, highlighting her resilience and resourcefulness.
Exploring literary conflict helps middle schoolers develop critical thinking by analyzing character motivations and story outcomes. Understanding conflict deepens their comprehension and engagement with the novel’s themes.
Teachers should guide students to: 1) Read key scenes, 2) Identify the type of conflict (e.g., Character vs. Society), 3) Illustrate the scene, and 4) Write a short explanation connecting the conflict to the story’s message.