Final answer:
Conflict, whether internal or external, propels a short story by introducing tension and challenges for characters. Internal conflicts revolve around a character's struggles with their own beliefs and values, while external conflicts involve antagonistic forces from characters, society, nature, or the supernatural.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Conflict in Short Stories
Conflict is the engine that drives the plot in literary works, particularly short stories. It creates tension and challenges for the characters, pushing the narrative toward a climax. Conflicts are categorized as internal or external. An internal conflict occurs within a character, involving struggles around beliefs, values, or goals—for example, a moral dilemma or a choice that challenges a character's ethics. External conflict, on the other hand, concerns struggles between a character and external forces. This may manifest as conflict with another character (Character vs. character), with nature (Character vs. nature), with society (Character vs. society), or with greater powers (Character vs. fate or the supernatural).
Each type of conflict propels the storyline and deepens the reader's engagement with the characters. Personal conflicts, for instance, whether ethical or emotional, add layers to the character's development. In summary, without conflict, a story lacks direction and the stakes necessary to captivate its audience.