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Read Chapters 10-13; Complete Student Packet Worksheets for Chapters 10-13

Choose two students to act as classic fairytale characters—Cinderella and Cinderella’s stepmother. Have the rest of the class act as reporters documenting the conflict between the two characters. For five minutes, have the students acting as reporters ask the characters interview questions. If students are struggling, prompt them by asking: "What do you want? What are your challenges? Who is in your way? What happened?" Encourage students to act as real reporters gathering information. 

Together, fill out a Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? chart. Explain to students that a real journalist would answer these questions in an article to give the reader a complete view of the conflict. See the Reporting Conflict Chart 1 for examples.

will remind students about at least one kind of conflict in a plot—Character vs. Character. A good reader will analyze a Character vs. Character conflict to deeply think about what is happening in the plot. For example, in Cinderella, it is not just that Cinderella gets locked in the attic that is important, it is that her stepmother wants her out of the way so that her own daughters have a shot with the Prince. By examining the conflict, we can better understand the plot of the story. Good readers analyze a Character vs. Character plot conflict by answering Who?, What?, Where?, When?, Why?, and How? This helps readers get to the heart of the causes, desires, and obstacles faced by characters in the plot of a story.

I will model acting like a reporter and asking the five questions about a conflict in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on chart paper. First, I will ask, “Who is this conflict between?” I will start with the conflict between Lucy and Edmund. I will write their names on chart paper. Next, I will ask, “What is the conflict about?” The conflict is about whether or not Narnia exists, since both Lucy and Edmund have conflicting stories. Then I will ask, “Where and When did it happen?” It happened back at the Old Professor’s House, with the other siblings Peter and Susan, after Lucy and Edmund returned from Narnia. This is important because Susan and Peter could not verify the story from the Professor’s house. Next I will ask, “How did it happen?” After Edmund came back from Narnia he lied to his siblings and told them that Lucy imagined Narnia. Lucy claimed that Edmund was lying and ran away upset. Finally, I will ask, “Why did this happen?” It happened because Edmund wanted to lead his siblings to the Queen without them knowing. Since Edmund wanted to be King of Narnia and wanted more Turkish Delight, he didn’t want to reveal what had happened in the wardrobe. See the Reporting Conflict Chart 1 for examples.

Ask: "How can I analyze a Character vs. Character plot conflict?" Students should answer that you can analyze a Character vs. Character plot conflict by asking and answering a reporter’s questions—Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How?

will analyze the conflict between Tumnus and the Queen (See Reporting Conflict 2 Chart for additional examples). We will record their names under Who is this conflict between? on chart paper. We will answer the remaining questions for the conflict on chart paper:

What is the conflict about? The conflict is about handing over humans to the Queen.

Where and When did it take place? It took place at Tumnus’ house after Lucy returned to the Professor’s house for the second time.

How did it happen? When Edmund revealed to the Queen that his sister had met a fawn in the woods of Narnia, she knew that he had violated the mandate that all creatures hand over humans to the Queen. After Edmund revealed this fact, the Queen sent her minions to capture Tumnus and bring him back to the castle, where she turned him into stone.

Why did it happen? It happened because Tumnus violated the Queen’s law and because Edmund revealed the truth. The Queen was fearful that the prophecy that four human siblings would come and dethrone her would come true, and she must eliminate any animals that will befriend or help the humans.

We will also examine the conflict between the Queen and the siblings. We will start by recording their names on chart paper under “Who is this conflict between?”

What is the conflict about? The conflict is about who will reign over Narnia.

Where and When did it take place? It took place in several scenes in Narnia.

How did it happen? The Queen lied to Edmund to get all four siblings in her grasp. When this didn’t work, she planned to kill him and then the other three. When she discovered Aslan was in Narnia, she began to plan a sacrificial exchange to eliminate Aslan and eventually the children.

Why did it happen? It happened because the prophecy said that the Queen would be dethroned by four humans. She must eliminate them to retain her power over Narnia.

will analyze the conflict between Aslan and the Queen by completing the Character Conflict: Aslan vs. the Queen page in your Student Packet. (See p. 15 in the Student Packet.). You will answer the reporter’s questions as though you were a reporter observing the battles of Narnia.

will come together and two volunteers will read their explanations of the plot conflict between Aslan and the Queen. To help students to start thinking about theme, ask students to discuss whether any of the conflicts discussed have a “good vs. evil” structure (a common plot element of Fantasy Fiction). Ask: "Are the motivations of the characters (their desires) what makes them good or evil, or do their actions make them good or evil? Are all of the characters either good or evil or is it sometimes unclear?"