Activity Overview
Storyboarding is an excellent way to focus on types of literary conflict. Have your students choose an example of each literary conflict and depict them using the Storyboard Creator.
In the storyboard, an example of each conflict should be visually represented, along with an explanation of the scene, and how it fits the particular category of conflict.
Examples of Literary Conflict in 1984
MAN vs. MAN
Winston and other adults are wary of children. In particular, Winston notes the Parson children across the hall, who enjoy playing games where they arrest people for thoughtcrime. “With those children, he thought, that wretched woman must lead a life of terror. Another year, or two years, and they would be watching her night and day for symptoms of unorthodoxy. Nearly all children nowadays were horrible.”
MAN vs. SELF
Winston is plagued by memories where he believes he killed his mother. He remembers how much his mother had loved him, and how he had been too selfish to love her in return. After running off with a full ration of chocolate, he returned to find his mother and toddler sister gone. He isn’t sure what happened, but has a feeling that “the lives of his mother and sister had been sacrificed to his own.”
MAN vs. SOCIETY
As Winston continues to write in his diary, carry on his affair with Julia, and learn more from O’Brien, he finds himself less and less content with the Party and Big Brother. He envisions a society where the proles rise up and overcome the government: “I don’t imagine that we can alter anything in our own lifetime. But one can imagine little knots of resistance springing up here and there—small groups of people banding themselves together, and gradually growing, and even leaving a few records behind, so that the next generation can carry on where we left off.”
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows at least three forms of literary conflict in 1984.
- Identify conflicts in 1984.
- Categorize each conflict as Character vs. Character, Character vs. Self, Character vs. Society, Character vs. Nature, or Character vs. Technology.
- Illustrate conflicts in the cells, using characters from the story.
- Write a short description of the conflict below the cell.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | Try Again | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conflict Identification | Student identifies correct major conflicts and uses strong, clear textual evidence to support choice. | Student identifies correct major conflict and uses few or unclear details to support their choice. | Student identifies incorrect major conflict, and uses some details from the text to support their choice. | Student does not attempt to identify major conflict or identifies incorrect major conflict with no explanation. |
| Understanding Outcome | Student clearly shows the outcome of the conflict and its effects on the protagonist with evidence from the text. | Student shows the outcome of the conflict and its effect on the protagonist, but some evidence is unclear. | Student shows the outcome of the conflict, but does not examine its effect on the protagonist and uses some vague textual evidence. | Student does not clearly show the outcome of the conflict or use textual evidence. |
| Character | Storyboard includes all required characters and clearly names them. Goes above and beyond by adding additional details. | Storyboard includes all required characters and clearly names them. | Storyboard includes protagonist and antagonist but leaves out other required characters. | Storyboard does not include the names of required characters. |
| Storyboard | Student clearly shows effort to convey the setting the scene of the book | Student attempts to convey setting and scene of the book, but lacks some clarity. | Student does not clearly convey the setting and scene. | Student makes little or no attempt to convey the setting or scene. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Student uses exemplary spelling and grammar. There are no errors. | Student makes a minor error in spelling and grammar. | Student makes several minor errors in spelling and grammar. | Student makes many errors in spelling and grammar; little attempt at spellchecking. |
Activity Overview
Storyboarding is an excellent way to focus on types of literary conflict. Have your students choose an example of each literary conflict and depict them using the Storyboard Creator.
In the storyboard, an example of each conflict should be visually represented, along with an explanation of the scene, and how it fits the particular category of conflict.
Examples of Literary Conflict in 1984
MAN vs. MAN
Winston and other adults are wary of children. In particular, Winston notes the Parson children across the hall, who enjoy playing games where they arrest people for thoughtcrime. “With those children, he thought, that wretched woman must lead a life of terror. Another year, or two years, and they would be watching her night and day for symptoms of unorthodoxy. Nearly all children nowadays were horrible.”
MAN vs. SELF
Winston is plagued by memories where he believes he killed his mother. He remembers how much his mother had loved him, and how he had been too selfish to love her in return. After running off with a full ration of chocolate, he returned to find his mother and toddler sister gone. He isn’t sure what happened, but has a feeling that “the lives of his mother and sister had been sacrificed to his own.”
MAN vs. SOCIETY
As Winston continues to write in his diary, carry on his affair with Julia, and learn more from O’Brien, he finds himself less and less content with the Party and Big Brother. He envisions a society where the proles rise up and overcome the government: “I don’t imagine that we can alter anything in our own lifetime. But one can imagine little knots of resistance springing up here and there—small groups of people banding themselves together, and gradually growing, and even leaving a few records behind, so that the next generation can carry on where we left off.”
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows at least three forms of literary conflict in 1984.
- Identify conflicts in 1984.
- Categorize each conflict as Character vs. Character, Character vs. Self, Character vs. Society, Character vs. Nature, or Character vs. Technology.
- Illustrate conflicts in the cells, using characters from the story.
- Write a short description of the conflict below the cell.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | Try Again | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conflict Identification | Student identifies correct major conflicts and uses strong, clear textual evidence to support choice. | Student identifies correct major conflict and uses few or unclear details to support their choice. | Student identifies incorrect major conflict, and uses some details from the text to support their choice. | Student does not attempt to identify major conflict or identifies incorrect major conflict with no explanation. |
| Understanding Outcome | Student clearly shows the outcome of the conflict and its effects on the protagonist with evidence from the text. | Student shows the outcome of the conflict and its effect on the protagonist, but some evidence is unclear. | Student shows the outcome of the conflict, but does not examine its effect on the protagonist and uses some vague textual evidence. | Student does not clearly show the outcome of the conflict or use textual evidence. |
| Character | Storyboard includes all required characters and clearly names them. Goes above and beyond by adding additional details. | Storyboard includes all required characters and clearly names them. | Storyboard includes protagonist and antagonist but leaves out other required characters. | Storyboard does not include the names of required characters. |
| Storyboard | Student clearly shows effort to convey the setting the scene of the book | Student attempts to convey setting and scene of the book, but lacks some clarity. | Student does not clearly convey the setting and scene. | Student makes little or no attempt to convey the setting or scene. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Student uses exemplary spelling and grammar. There are no errors. | Student makes a minor error in spelling and grammar. | Student makes several minor errors in spelling and grammar. | Student makes many errors in spelling and grammar; little attempt at spellchecking. |
How Tos about Literary Conflict in 1984 by George Orwell
Plan a class discussion on literary conflict using 1984
Engage students by organizing a guided conversation about the types of conflict found in 1984. Encourage them to share their own examples, ask questions, and connect the conflicts in the novel to real-world situations. This approach deepens understanding and helps make literary concepts more relatable.
Prepare thought-provoking questions ahead of time
List open-ended questions that prompt students to analyze character motivations and the impact of different conflicts. Examples include: Why does Winston struggle with loyalty? or How does the society in 1984 fuel internal conflict? Well-crafted questions spark deeper classroom conversations and critical thinking.
Assign roles to encourage participation
Give students roles such as discussion leader, note-taker, or summarizer to ensure everyone is involved. Rotating these roles each session builds confidence and accountability among all students.
Summarize key takeaways as a group
Wrap up the discussion by asking students to highlight the most important insights about literary conflict in 1984. Recording these points reinforces learning and gives students a helpful reference for future assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Literary Conflict in 1984 by George Orwell
What are the main types of literary conflict in 1984?
1984 features several main types of literary conflict: Man vs. Man (e.g., Winston vs. the children/Parsons), Man vs. Self (Winston's internal guilt and regret), and Man vs. Society (Winston's rebellion against the Party and Big Brother). These conflicts drive the novel's themes and character development.
How can students storyboard literary conflict in 1984?
Students can storyboard literary conflict in 1984 by selecting key scenes that exemplify different conflict types, illustrating them visually, and adding brief explanations of how each scene fits its conflict category. Using a storyboard creator makes this process engaging and helps deepen understanding.
What is an example of Man vs. Society conflict in 1984?
An example of Man vs. Society conflict in 1984 is when Winston writes in his diary and dreams of rebellion against the oppressive Party. His private thoughts and actions put him at odds with the totalitarian regime, highlighting his struggle against societal control.
Why does Winston struggle with Man vs. Self conflict in 1984?
Winston struggles with Man vs. Self conflict due to feelings of guilt and regret over his past, especially regarding his mother and sister. He questions his own motives and morality, creating internal tension that shapes his actions throughout the novel.
What is the best way to teach literary conflict using 1984 in high school?
The best way to teach literary conflict using 1984 is through interactive activities like storyboarding. This allows students to visualize and analyze different conflict types, connect them to specific scenes, and discuss their impact on the story and characters.
More Storyboard That Activities
1984
- A crowd gathered around a man speaking from the back of a horse-drawn wagon • Kheel Center, Cornell University • License Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
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