Character and Conflict Map
Track what each character wants, what blocks them, and how their choices shape the novel's conflicts.
Success criteria
- I can distinguish a character's desire from their obstacle.
- I can explain whether a conflict is external, internal, or both.
- I can use a character's choice as evidence of change.
Key idea
Desire is what a character wants. Obstacle is what blocks them. Choice is what they do about it. Change is what the choice reveals or produces.
Worked example - Coraline
| Element | Evidence from the novel | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Desire | Coraline wants to be noticed, to explore, and to have a home that is not dull or dismissive. | She is not simply bored; she wants attention and belonging. |
| Obstacle | The Other Mother offers attention, but only on the condition that Coraline replaces her eyes and stays. | The obstacle is not just a monster; it is a false version of being wanted. |
| Choice | Coraline refuses the offer and goes back for her parents and the trapped children. | She chooses responsibility over comfort. |
| Change | She becomes more cautious, more resourceful, and more confident in her own judgement. | Courage is shown through action, not a speech. |
| Conflict | Coraline against the Other Mother; Coraline against her own fear; Coraline against the temptation to stay. | External and internal conflicts work together. |
Character map
| Character | Desire | Obstacle | Choice | Change or consequence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Other Mother | ||||
| Wybie | ||||
| The cat | ||||
| Coraline's mother | ||||
| Coraline's father | ||||
| Other Father | ||||
| Other Wybie |
Conflict map
| Conflict | Type | Who or what is involved? | Turning point | What it reveals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coraline vs the Other Mother | External | |||
| Coraline vs her fear | Internal | |||
| Coraline vs the temptation to stay | Internal | |||
| Wybie vs his own fear | Internal | |||
| The cat vs the Other Mother | External |
Analysis questions
- Which character changes the most? What evidence supports your answer?
- Is the Other Mother a person, a force, or both? Explain using two details.
- Why is the cat an important ally even though it does not solve Coraline's problem?
- How does Wybie's fear make Coraline's courage more convincing?
- Which conflict is the most important to the novel's message about home? Why?
Write your own paragraph
Choose one character. Write a paragraph that answers: How does this character's response to conflict reveal the novel's ideas about courage or belonging?
- I named the desire and the obstacle.
- I used one precise detail as evidence.
- I named the type of conflict.
- I explained what the character's choice reveals.
- I linked to a wider idea.
Teacher notes
Students often confuse “what happens” with “what it shows”. Model the difference using the Coraline row.
The Other Mother is more than a monster: she represents a version of care that becomes ownership. Push students to explain the temptation, not just the threat.
Support: give students three pre-filled desires and ask them to find the obstacles and choices.
Extension: ask students to argue that the cat is the most important character in the novel.