What is conflict in literature?

• A. Conflict is a problem to be solved.
• B. Conflict is a description of the setting.
• C. Conflict is the author’s bias.
• D. Conflict is a theme.

Answer: (A)

In literature, conflict is the problem or struggle that drives the plot and creates tension as characters work to overcome obstacles. It can show up outside the character, like a clash with another person, a fight against nature, or a challenge against societal rules, or inside the character, as a decision or emotion the character must wrestle with. This idea fits best because conflict is what sets action in motion and keeps readers invested in what happens next.

Think of it as the engine of the story—the challenge characters face that they must resolve, which leads to choices, changes, and consequences. By contrast, describing the setting is just about where and when the story happens, not the central problem to resolve. A bias would be about perspective, not the story’s struggle. A theme is the broader message or lesson the story conveys, not the specific problem the characters confront.