Activity Overview
Storyboarding is an excellent way to focus on types of literary conflicts. Having students create storyboards that show the cause and effect of different types of conflicts strengthens analytical thinking about literary concepts. 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.
Literary Conflict Examples in The Tempest
MAN vs. MAN
Prospero entrusted his brother Antonio with his Dukedom duties because he wanted to spend his time on other things that interested him more. Antonio seized the opportunity to take Prospero’s place by forming an alliance with Alonso, the King of Naples, and exiled Prospero for 12 years. Prospero vows revenge.
MAN vs. SELF
Alonso believes his son Ferdinand is dead, and his daughter has just been married to the King of Tunis, very far away. He is deep in grief over losing both of his children, and Sebastian chides him for making the decision to marry Claribel off in the first place, sending Alonso further into guilt and despair.
MAN vs. NATURE
The tempest itself becomes its own force, spurred on by Ariel, that none of the sailors or men can handle. The boat catches fire and splits up in the sea, sending all of the men plunging into the raging waters.
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 The Tempest.
- Identify conflicts in The Tempest.
- 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 conflicts. Having students create storyboards that show the cause and effect of different types of conflicts strengthens analytical thinking about literary concepts. 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.
Literary Conflict Examples in The Tempest
MAN vs. MAN
Prospero entrusted his brother Antonio with his Dukedom duties because he wanted to spend his time on other things that interested him more. Antonio seized the opportunity to take Prospero’s place by forming an alliance with Alonso, the King of Naples, and exiled Prospero for 12 years. Prospero vows revenge.
MAN vs. SELF
Alonso believes his son Ferdinand is dead, and his daughter has just been married to the King of Tunis, very far away. He is deep in grief over losing both of his children, and Sebastian chides him for making the decision to marry Claribel off in the first place, sending Alonso further into guilt and despair.
MAN vs. NATURE
The tempest itself becomes its own force, spurred on by Ariel, that none of the sailors or men can handle. The boat catches fire and splits up in the sea, sending all of the men plunging into the raging waters.
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 The Tempest.
- Identify conflicts in The Tempest.
- 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 Identifying Literary Conflict in The Tempest
Integrate Literary Conflict Discussions into Daily Class Routines
Boost student engagement by weaving quick literary conflict discussions into your daily agenda. Consistent exposure helps students recognize conflict types across texts and encourages deeper analysis throughout the year.
Start each class with a conflict warm-up question
Ask students to recall a conflict from a recent reading or personal experience. Encourage sharing to spark interest and activate prior knowledge about conflict types.
Prompt students to identify conflict types in short excerpts
Share a brief passage from any text and have students name the conflict type and justify their choice. Repetition builds confidence and sharpens their analytical skills.
Facilitate quick pair-share discussions on conflict resolution
Have students turn to a neighbor to discuss how a character might resolve a conflict. Collaboration encourages new perspectives and critical thinking.
Celebrate creative conflict connections with a class chart
Maintain a visible chart tracking different conflicts identified in various texts. Recognize student contributions to inspire ongoing participation and build a culture of close reading.
Frequently Asked Questions about Identifying Literary Conflict in The Tempest
What are the main types of literary conflict in The Tempest?
The Tempest features several key types of literary conflict: Man vs. Man (e.g., Prospero vs. Antonio), Man vs. Self (e.g., Alonso's internal grief and guilt), and Man vs. Nature (e.g., the shipwreck caused by the tempest). Each conflict shapes the characters' actions and the story's progression.
How can I teach students to identify conflict in The Tempest using storyboards?
Have students create a storyboard where they illustrate at least three forms of literary conflict from The Tempest. Each cell should depict a scene representing a conflict type, include relevant characters, and offer a short description explaining how the scene fits a specific conflict category.
What is an example of Man vs. Man conflict in The Tempest?
An example of Man vs. Man conflict in The Tempest is the betrayal of Prospero by his brother Antonio, who conspires with Alonso to seize Prospero's dukedom and exile him. This sets the stage for Prospero's quest for revenge.
Why is understanding literary conflict important for high school students studying The Tempest?
Understanding literary conflict helps students analyze characters' motivations, plot development, and themes in The Tempest. It deepens comprehension and encourages critical thinking about how conflicts drive stories forward.
What storyboard activities help students analyze conflict in The Tempest?
Effective storyboard activities include having students visually represent different conflict types, write brief explanations for each scene, and categorize them (e.g., Character vs. Self, Character vs. Nature). This promotes active engagement and analytical skills.
More Storyboard That Activities
Tempest, The
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