Which of the following is an example of external conflict in a literary work?

• A. A character battles a villain.
• B. A character wrestles with personal doubt.
• C. A character struggles with guilt.
• D. A character's inner decision.

Answer: (A)

External conflict is a struggle between a character and an outside force—another person, society, nature, or fate. In this example, a character battles a villain, which is a direct confrontation with another individual and thus an outside force opposing the protagonist. The other scenarios describe internal conflicts—doubt, guilt, or a difficult inner decision—where the opposing force comes from within the character. Those are internal, not external, conflicts. So battling a villain best illustrates external conflict.