Conflict in Literature
Literary Conflict in The Little Mermaid
Four Types of Conflict in the Little Mermaid
1) Man versus man (external) – The character struggles against another character or characters. In The Little Mermaid, Ariel struggles against King Triton and Ursula.
2) Man versus nature (external) – The character struggle against the forces of nature. Prince Eric struggles against a storm.
3) Man versus self (internal) – The character has an internal struggle. Ariel struggles with her desire to see the surface despite having “treasures” of the surface world in her room under water.
4) Man versus society (external) – The character struggles against an authoritarian system. Ariel’s father, King Triton, also represents the authority of the mermaid culture. In defying her father, Ariel is also defying society.
Types of Conflict
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Dr. Hugh Fox III 