Types of Conflict in "The Interlopers"

Literary conflicts are often taught during ELA units. Building on prior knowledge to achieve mastery level with our students is important. An excellent way to focus on the various types of literary conflict is through storyboarding. Having students choose an example of each literary conflict and depict it using the storyboard creator is a great way to reinforce your lesson! In “The Interlopers”, both internal and external conflicts can be found.

Examples of Literary Conflict from “The Interlopers”

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MAN vs. SELF

Ulrich’s must overcome his own pride and stubbornness to offer Georg some wine.

MAN vs. SOCIETY

Georg and Ulrich must ignore the 'interlopers', outsiders who would try to interfere with their reconciling.

MAN vs. MAN

Ulrich and Georg start by being bitter enemies, set on killing each other over land.

MAN vs. NATURE

The two men are trapped under a birch tree, which thwarts both of their efforts to kill the other.

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that shows at least three forms of literary conflict in “The Interlopers”.

1. Identify conflicts in “The Interlopers”.
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.
5. Save and submit the assignment.