Man versus Nature - in the strictest term, this is a 'survival' plot against inevitability provided by a natural force.
Man versus Man - a conflict of any sort against a thinking opponent who reacts to the protagonist.
Man vs. Environment - Usually expressed as Man vs. Society. Protagonist comes into conflict with the social order of things as opposed to natural order (man vs. nature). This also encompasses Man vs. Technology, as technology is part of our social environment.
Man vs. Self - Introspection, often expressed as Man vs. Ideals/Morals.
Man vs. Supernatural - this inevitably boils down to a combination of Man vs. Man/Man vs. Society.
Examples:
Schindler's List is obviously a Man vs. Society tale, but you have elements of Man v. Self in Oskar's internal turmoil, and Man v. Man in his direct confrontations with the individuals in the Nazi hierarchy.
Dracula, on the other hand, for as much as it is a supernatural story is straight up Man vs. Man - protagonist (and friends) versus a thinking antagonist who acts and reacts. The Man vs. Self conflicts that Harker goes through are ancillary to the main conflict.
Star Wars covers most of the standard plots over the course of six movies. You start with an overarcing story of Man vs. Self (Anakin's internal struggle between his own desires and the Jedi ideals) which is set against a backdrop of Man vs. Man (the war with the Trade Federation and the machinations of Darth Sidious), and the lesser concept of Man vs. Society (the conflicts between the Jedi tradition and the current sociopolitical climate).
The second trilogy concentrates more on Man vs. Man (Luke v. Vader) with the background of Man v Society (Rebels vs. Empire) and a minor plot of Man vs. Self (Han's conversion from self-serving scoundrel to hero, Luke's coming to terms with his destiny, etc).
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Date: 2007-03-07 06:19 pm (UTC)Man versus Nature - in the strictest term, this is a 'survival' plot against inevitability provided by a natural force.
Man versus Man - a conflict of any sort against a thinking opponent who reacts to the protagonist.
Man vs. Environment - Usually expressed as Man vs. Society. Protagonist comes into conflict with the social order of things as opposed to natural order (man vs. nature). This also encompasses Man vs. Technology, as technology is part of our social environment.
Man vs. Self - Introspection, often expressed as Man vs. Ideals/Morals.
Man vs. Supernatural - this inevitably boils down to a combination of Man vs. Man/Man vs. Society.
Examples:
Schindler's List is obviously a Man vs. Society tale, but you have elements of Man v. Self in Oskar's internal turmoil, and Man v. Man in his direct confrontations with the individuals in the Nazi hierarchy.
Dracula, on the other hand, for as much as it is a supernatural story is straight up Man vs. Man - protagonist (and friends) versus a thinking antagonist who acts and reacts. The Man vs. Self conflicts that Harker goes through are ancillary to the main conflict.
Star Wars covers most of the standard plots over the course of six movies. You start with an overarcing story of Man vs. Self (Anakin's internal struggle between his own desires and the Jedi ideals) which is set against a backdrop of Man vs. Man (the war with the Trade Federation and the machinations of Darth Sidious), and the lesser concept of Man vs. Society (the conflicts between the Jedi tradition and the current sociopolitical climate).
The second trilogy concentrates more on Man vs. Man (Luke v. Vader) with the background of Man v Society (Rebels vs. Empire) and a minor plot of Man vs. Self (Han's conversion from self-serving scoundrel to hero, Luke's coming to terms with his destiny, etc).