If I Stay question

Hello,

In English class we are learning about internal and external conflict. How do you think these two different types of conflicts effect the story? Do you think internal or external conflict is used more in the book? Do you think it should be used more than it already is?

Without a doubt I think the whole entire book is an internal conflict. The whole book is about Mia and whether she should stay or not. This is a big decision for her and the whole book revolves around it. Because it is a decision she is making by herself that only involves herself, this is clearly an internal conflict. Because the whole book revolves around just one conflict, the book would be boring without it. There would be no point in Gayle Forman writing it. Not only do the readers enjoy reading the book, but they can also learn something from it. The decision that Mia has to face teaches people that when you have to make a huge decision that can be life changing, you have to put a lot of time and effort into making it - so you know it is the best for you.

There are also many small internal conflicts in the book. A lot of them take place in the flashbacks that Forman includes.

I also think that there is a huge external conflict - the car crash. This is an external conflict because not only does it affect Mia, but it effects her whole family. Her mom, dad, and brother all die. So clearly it affects all of them. And not only does it effect them but it effects their loved ones and other friends and family. This external conflict in the book is not only important because it is an external conflict but I think that is also the climax. I think that it is the climax because the whole book revolves around this one event. Without the crash happening Mia would not be in the state she is in and no decision would have to be made.

These two examples of internal and external conflict show how important conflict is in a story and how the plot would not be the same without them.