What does a novel’s conflict show you—besides the problems faced by the characters? Select all that apply.

Question

the author’s feelings about the story

the themes or big ideas it might develop

the character traits of its characters

the story’s location in time and space

Answer 1

A novel's conflict can show you several aspects beyond the problems faced by the characters, including:

• The themes or big ideas it might develop: Conflict often serves to highlight underlying themes and messages within the narrative, providing insight into the author's intended commentary on life and society.

• The character traits of its characters: How characters respond to conflict reveals their motivations, strengths, weaknesses, and growth throughout the story.

While the author’s feelings about the story and the story's location in time and space can potentially be inferred from the conflict, these aspects are not as directly represented by the conflict itself. Thus, the most relevant options are the themes and the character traits.