Conflict in "The Interlopers"

• PRINT
• EMAIL

Students will identify the types of conflict found in "The Interlopers" and create a story that uses three out of the four types of conflict identified.

OBJECTIVE
Students will:

1. Identify conflict within a short story
2. Brainstorm situations for the four types of conflict
3. Work independently to create a story that uses at least three types of conflict

MATERIALS

1. "The Interlopers" by H.H. Munro

SET UP AND PREPARE

1. Have your students read "The Interlopers" prior to starting this lesson.

DIRECTIONS

1. Write the word "conflict" inside of a circle on the board. Ask students to give you words that they think of when they hear the word conflict and write those words around conflict.
2. Explain that conflict is a struggle between at least opposing forces. Identify two types of conflict and write them on the board as you define each type.
• Internal– an inside conflict
• man v/s self 
• For example: a hungry girl is debating whether or not to steal a candy bar from the store.
• External– an outside conflict
• Man v/s man 
• For example: two students get into a fight over a basketball in gym class.
• Man v/s group  
• For example: Tyrone's family doesn't like Charmaine because she's not from a rich family, so they belittle her every chance they get.
• Man v/s nature 
• For example:  a man fights against heavy winds but is swept away in a tornado.
3. Pair students and ask them to write down which types of conflict apply to "The Interlopers."  Have them explain using proof from the text.
4. In those same pairs, ask students to create short scenarios, like the examples given above, for each of the types of conflict.
5. Allow volunteer pairs to share a few scenarios with the class.
6. Have students work independently to write a three-page story that involves at least three of the various types of conflict you discussed.

SUPPORTING ALL LEARNERS
For advanced learners, have students compare and contrast conflicts in two different texts with higher levels of difficulty or make their stories more difficult by setting more specific parameters in terms of pages and use of other literary terms that have been covered.

ASSESS STUDENTS

• How quickly did students identify the types of conflict within in the story?
• How successful were the stories in terms of incorporating conflict?

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Define the two types of conflict.
2. Identify conflict in a short story.
3. Create examples of conflict.
4. Create a conflict-filled story.

HOME CONNECTION
Watch your favorite TV shows and be ready to explain the types of conflicts used and how they were resolved. Ask people who live with you to explain any conflicts that they've had lately and then identify which type of conflict it is.

EVALUATE THE LESSON

• How well did you explain conflict?
• Will your students be able to identify the various types of conflict in another text without you giving them any hints?

Miriama Sesay-St. Paul is a teacher at Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark, New Jersey.

Irony in "The Gift of the Magi"
Activities that teach students to recognize different types of irony, a common component of much of both classic and contemporary literature.

Poetry Immersion
Students actively explore, observe, and learn about poetry through centers in preparation for writing poems later.

"The Gift of the Magi" Vocabulary Activities
These vocabulary activities help students to learn definitions and also to use and apply the vocabulary words in various contexts.

ARTICLE	Vocabulary and Comprehension-Building Booklist Books offering content and teaching suggestions to help you build students' reading comprehension and increase their vocabularies.
UNIT PLAN	Using Short Stories to Teach Vocabulary and Literary Terms Includes vocabulary activities for two commonly taught short stories The Gift of the Magi and The Interlopers, which can be adapted to any short...