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.
Ulrich’s must overcome his own pride and stubbornness to offer Georg some wine.
Georg and Ulrich must ignore the 'interlopers', outsiders who would try to interfere with their reconciling.
Ulrich and Georg start by being bitter enemies, set on killing each other over land.
The two men are trapped under a birch tree, which thwarts both of their efforts to kill the other.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows at least three forms of literary conflict in “The Interlopers”.
Engage students in a lively debate by assigning them different conflict types from the story. Debates help students articulate their understanding and think critically about each character’s struggles.
Divide your class into groups and give each group a specific conflict type (e.g., Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature). Focused group work encourages collaboration and deeper analysis.
Ask each group to find direct quotes and examples from the text that illustrate their assigned conflict. This step builds close reading and support skills.
Have each group present their findings and allow other groups to ask questions or challenge their interpretations. Interactive discussion boosts confidence and comprehension.
Lead a quick class discussion on what was learned about each conflict type and how they shape the story’s meaning. Reflection cements understanding and encourages critical thinking.
"The Interlopers" features several types of conflict: Man vs. Man (Ulrich and Georg's feud), Man vs. Nature (the men trapped by the tree), Man vs. Self (Ulrich's struggle with his pride), and Man vs. Society (the pressure from outsiders). Each conflict drives the plot and reveals character motivations.
Use storyboarding to have students identify and illustrate at least three types of conflict from the story. Ask them to label each conflict (e.g., Character vs. Character, Character vs. Nature) and write a brief description, helping reinforce understanding through visual and written analysis.
Internal conflict in the story involves Ulrich's personal struggle with pride and forgiveness. External conflicts include the feud between Ulrich and Georg (Man vs. Man) and their battle against the environment (Man vs. Nature). Both types shape the characters' actions and the story's outcome.
'The Interlopers' presents clear, relatable examples of multiple conflicts, making it easy for students in grades 6–12 to identify and analyze different types. Its short length and dramatic plot also engage students while supporting key ELA learning objectives.
One major Man vs. Nature example is when Ulrich and Georg are trapped under a fallen birch tree during their confrontation. This conflict with nature prevents them from continuing their feud and ultimately leads to the story's unexpected ending.