Final answer:
Conflict is the term that describes the struggle between opposing forces in a narrative, essential for progressing the plot and engaging the audience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe the clash of actions, ideas, wills, or forces between the protagonist and an antagonist, or between a protagonist and some inanimate force like nature is known as conflict. Conflict is an integral part of a narrative, providing the main problem that drives a story forward. There are different types of conflict, including internal conflict, where a character struggles with personal issues, and external conflict, where a character faces opposition from another character, society, nature, or a set of ideas. It's through the resolution of this conflict that the climax of the story is reached, leading eventually to the story's resolution.
Conflict can be evident in many forms in literature, such as protagonist versus self, protagonist versus antagonist, protagonist versus environment, or protagonist versus society. This tension is essential for the development of a plot, and without it, the story would lack the dynamics that engage readers or viewers.