What is the difference between an internal conflict and an external conflict? An external conflict is the major conflict in a wo
rk, and an internal conflict is a struggle that takes place between subordinate characters. An internal conflict takes place between two characters, while an external conflict takes place between a character and society. An internal conflict takes place within a character, but an external conflict takes place between a character and a group, a force of nature, or another character. An external conflict relates to the historical context of a literary work, while an internal conflict relates to the particular lives of the characters.
