The most recent book I've read for school was a book called "Tales of the Greek Heroes" by Roger Lancelyn Green. I learned all about all different sorts of conflict. An example for man vs nature is Heracles and the bull, in which Heracles kills a giant bull that had been terrorizing the village. An example for man vs fate is the story of Tantalus, in which Tantalus has all the food and water he needs right in front of him, but he can't eat of drink any of it. The last story is that of King Midas, which I personally classify as man vs self, in which Midas make a wish that he can make anything he touches gold, but his greed ends as nothing but a curse.
My first example of conflict is Heracles and the bull, which represents man vs nature. Heracles is sent to complete 12 labors for the king, and the bull is the seventh one. Basically, there was a huge giant bull that was roaming around and destroying stuff, and no one could kill it. So naturally, the king made Heracles kill it. Clearly, Heracles killed the bull with ease. Speaking of death and killing.... That leads us to my next example!
My second example is the story of Tantalus, which very easily represents man vs fate. The thing about Tantalus is... He was really, really sick and twisted. One day, Tantalus was aloud to taste ambrosia, the food of the gods, but he wasn't aloud to take any home. He was actually really, really pissed about that. But he pretended all was good and fine, and invited the gods to dinner. However, here's where it gets sick. HE COOKED HIS CHILDREN!!! LIKE WHAT!!?!?? As a punishment for cooking his children, when he died, he was sent to the Fields of Punishment. There, he stood in a lake with food hanging over his head. He was famished and thirsty, but he couldn't eat of drink. Speaking of curses, did you hear about Midas? No? Well you're in luck because that's my next subject!
My third (and last) example of conflict is about King Midas. I think that this is a good example of man vs self because Midas has to face how greedy he had been. The story of Midas is something rather like this: Midas did a favor for Dionysus, and as a reward Dionysus said he would grant one wish. Midas, being such a greedy man, said that he wanted everything he touched to turn to gold. Dionysus obliged, but as soon as Midas got home he tried to eat and he realized something. His food turned to gold in his mouth. Literally everything he touched turned to gold. His daughter soon entered the room and came to give him a hug. He tried to warn her, but she hugged him and was instantly turned to gold. It then dawned on him how greedy he had been, and so he ran back to Dionysus begging him to take the "gift" back.
So those are my three examples of conflict. Heracles taught us that if you try hard enough, you can do anything. Tantalus taught us to not act out on a grudge too hard, and Midas taught us to not be greedy. And that is just three of the different types of conflict.
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