Final answer:
Internal conflicts within characters often wrestle with themes of reality versus illusion, driving the narrative towards its climax and contributing to the overall theme. Characters cope with conflicts through various means, reflecting the complexity of the human condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central conflict in a narrative can be internal or external. Internal conflict is characterized by a struggle within a character, such as grappling with a moral dilemma or choosing between conflicting desires or duties. This conflict creates tension within the character that contributes to the story's theme, often highlighting the struggle between reality and illusion. External conflicts, on the other hand, involve a character clashing with outside forces, which could be another character, society, or nature.
The theme of a narrative is its central message or insight into life, and it's often shaped and illustrated by how characters cope with these conflicts. As characters navigate through their internal and external conflicts, reaching a story's climax, the narrative often explores themes such as the human condition or the nature of society.
Characters may cope with their internal conflicts through reflection, decision-making, or even avoidance as means of resolution. This coping process drives the narrative forward, building toward the climax where tensions are at their height. The resolution of these conflicts often provides deeper insights into the overarching theme and the characters themselves.