Final answer:
Conflict is a crucial element in most fiction, serving as both the driving force of the story and a tool for theme development. Various types of conflict exist, including character versus self, character versus another character, and character versus society. Through the story's conflict, the plot unfolds, engaging the reader and providing a stage for theme exploration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most fiction, regardless of genre, includes elements of conflict because it is the driving force of a story. It is the central challenge that a character must face, and it serves to draw readers in and keep them engaged. Fiction often uses different types of conflict such as character versus self, character versus another character, character versus nature, and character versus society. This conflict not only builds the reader's interest in the main character's problem but also helps the author develop the theme, or message to the reader. For example, an author might craft a story in which the protagonist must overcome personal insecurities (character vs. self) to achieve their goal, serving to illustrate a theme of self-reliance or personal growth. Through the story's conflict, the plot advances through stages of rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, each of which serves to further engage the reader and develop the story's theme.
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