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.
Celie becomes murderous when she discovers that Albert has been keeping Nettie’s letters from her all these years. With Shug’s help, she manages to keep her rage under control until Shug and Grady can get her to Memphis with them, but not before she lashes out at Albert.
Celie doesn’t see herself as deserving of love and respect. She feels dumb in comparison to everything that Nettie has learned in school, and she feels dull in her looks in comparison to Shug. Celie doggedly lives her life with Albert, raising his children, because she thinks that’s the only option she has.
The common Christian belief is that Christians need to do all that they can to please God; however, Shug believes that the way to please God is to enjoy the things in life that make us happy. This leads Shug to go where she wants, love who she wants, and do what she wants, which all goes against the traditional teachings of Christianity, and what was expected of women and their behavior in the South during this time period.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows at least three forms of literary conflict in The Color Purple.
Encourage students to share and compare their storyboard examples in a group discussion. This promotes deeper understanding as students explain their choices and hear diverse perspectives on conflict in The Color Purple.
Ask students to locate and quote specific passages from the novel that illustrate each type of conflict. This builds critical reading skills and supports their storyboard scenes with concrete examples.
Demonstrate how to create a visual anchor chart displaying the definitions and examples of each conflict type. Hang it in your classroom as a quick reference for students during reading and discussions.
Organize opportunities for students to review each other's storyboards and provide constructive feedback. This strategy enhances collaboration and helps students refine their understanding of literary conflicts.
The Color Purple features several types of literary conflict, including Character vs. Character (Celie vs. Albert), Character vs. Self (Celie's struggle with self-worth), and Character vs. Society (Shug's defiance of traditional roles). Each conflict drives character development and highlights key themes in the novel.
To identify examples of conflict in The Color Purple, students should look for moments where characters face opposition—either from others, themselves, or society. Encourage students to note actions, dialogue, or decisions that show tension or struggle, then categorize each as a specific type of conflict.
A simple and effective classroom activity is to have students create storyboards that depict different conflicts from The Color Purple. Each panel should show a conflict type, illustrate the scene, and include a brief explanation of how it fits the category.
Understanding literary conflict helps students analyze character motivations, plot development, and themes. In The Color Purple, conflicts reveal deeper social issues and personal growth, making literary analysis more meaningful and relevant.
Yes. An example of Character vs. Self is Celie's struggle with her self-esteem and self-worth. An example of Character vs. Society is Shug's rejection of traditional gender and religious expectations in the Southern U.S.