Home > Subjects > English > English level 3 > 3.2 Written text(s) > Subject content > Conflict and symbol
- Subject: English
- AS: 90721
- Level: 3
- Credits: 3
- External
3.2 Respond critically to written text(s) studied
Conflict and symbol
Conflict is when there is a strong disagreement because of different motivations, beliefs, and points of view between characters. Internal conflict is when an individual character struggles to make sense of changes, challenges, and differences in their life and the outside world. Conflict is often central to any dramatic text and helps to develop and reveal the strengths and weaknesses of characters, themes, and the purpose of the text(s).
- Scroll to the heading narrative for information on how conflict draws elements of text together.
- How has conflict been used to highlight strengths and weakness in our own society?
A symbol is an object or image that is used to represent an idea. Not all texts use symbolism, however, when used it can be repeated throughout the text(s) as an effective way to express a complex idea.
Key points to study
- What symbols are used in the text(s)?
- What does each symbol mean and who is connected with it?
- How effective is each symbol?
Ways to study symbol
- Close read – the opening or close of a chapter, or a moment of high tension looking for any symbols mentioned or used by certain characters.
- Chart:
- What is the object/image?
- Where and when is the object shown?
- Who is connected with the object?
- What does the object mean or show us about the character?
- How does the symbol show the themes?
Other keywords for symbol: symbolism, symbolic, significant object, motif, image.
