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!
Mordred hates Arthur because he thinks he tried to have him killed as an infant. He swears to get revenge by tearing down Arthur’s closest circle and exposing Lancelot and Guenever’s affair publicly. Under Arthur’s civil code of laws, their activities constitute treason, and he will have to execute them both.
As Arthur sits in his tent in the last few chapters, his wife a prisoner, his best friend in exile, his son trying to kill him, and his Round Table dispersed, he realizes that he has been unable to stop these misfortunes. He feels his new system has failed and wonders if war will always be inevitable. He makes sure to pass on his ideas to Thomas Malory in the hopes that his mantra of “Might only for Right” will be passed on to future generations.
While Arthur realizes what Guenever and Lancelot have done to him is treason, he loves them both and does not want to carry out a punishment; however, as King, he is bound by the rules he’s created for his own society to do so. Guenever is sentenced to be burned at the stake, and Arthur secretly hopes Lancelot will ride in to save her at the last moment.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows at least three forms of literary conflict in one of the books from Once and Future King.
Begin your lesson by connecting literary conflict to real-life situations your students understand, such as disagreements or tough decisions. Relatable examples make abstract concepts stick and spark student interest from the start.
Read a short passage aloud and demonstrate your thought process as you identify the type of conflict. Thinking aloud shows students how to analyze text and categorize conflicts themselves.
Work through a story as a class, pausing to ask students to spot different conflicts. Encourage discussion and guide them toward the correct conflict types. Collaborative analysis builds confidence and understanding.
Work with your class to make a wall chart showing each conflict type, definitions, and student-provided examples. Visual reminders help reinforce learning and provide a handy reference all year.
Display completed storyboards and have students walk around to view each other's work. Invite them to leave positive feedback or sticky notes about strong conflict examples. Peer recognition boosts motivation and deepens understanding.
The main types of literary conflict in 'Candle in the Wind' are Man vs. Man (Mordred vs. Arthur), Man vs. Self (Arthur’s internal struggle), and Man vs. Society (Arthur vs. his own laws and kingdom). Each highlights different challenges faced by the characters.
To teach literary conflict with storyboards, have students select examples of each conflict type from the text, illustrate them in storyboard panels, and write brief descriptions. This visual approach reinforces understanding and engages students creatively.
An example of Man vs. Self in 'Candle in the Wind' is King Arthur’s struggle with guilt and failure as he faces the collapse of his ideals and relationships, questioning whether his vision for the kingdom was truly achievable.
Identifying literary conflict helps high school students analyze character motivations, plot development, and themes. It deepens comprehension and supports critical thinking, which are key skills in ELA curriculum standards.
Effective ways include using storyboards, group discussions, real-life scenario comparisons, and encouraging students to categorize and illustrate conflicts from texts. These strategies make abstract concepts concrete and relatable.