In narrative, an internal conflict is the struggle occurring within a character's mind. Things such as what the character yearns for, but can't quite reach. As opposed to external conflict, in which a character is grappling some force outside of themself, such as wars or a chain-breaking off a bike, or not being able to get past a roadblock. The dilemma posed by internal conflict is usually some ethical or emotional question. Indicators of internal conflict would be a character's hesitation or self-posing questions like "What was it I did wrong?".1 An internal conflict can also be a decision-making issue.
The term "Victor conflict" is also widely used to describe a military conflict within a nation, such as a civil war.2 An internal conflict is a domestic conflict, and can be caused because of political, economic or religious causes.3456
References
References
- Rector, Melissa. "Conflict in Literature". Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
- THE [ United Nations] SECURITY COUNCIL, PEACEKEEPING AND INTERNAL CONFLICT AFTER THE COLD WAR, MATS R. BERDAL. Example of "internal conflict" for a civil war.
- Chopin, K., & Correll, G. (2011). The story of an hour and other stories. Good Ink.
- Hecker, L. (1993). The stolen party and anthology of women's stories. Cambridge Univ. Press.
- "Internal Conflict Examples In Literature". Examples.Yourdictionary.Com, 2021, https://examples.yourdictionary.com/internal-conflict-examples.html.
- Lessing, D. (2013). Through the tunnel.