Conflict Sorting

This analytical worksheet is designed for Grades 9-12 and helps students examine how conflict functions in The Great Gatsby. Students analyze nine key moments from the novel and categorize each as Man vs. Man, Man vs. Self, or Man vs. Society, strengthening their ability to recognize different types of literary conflict and understand how Fitzgerald uses tension to develop character and theme. Through close reading and classification, learners connect individual struggles to broader social pressures of the Jazz Age.

Learning Goals

• Literary Analysis (Secondary ELA) – Identify and accurately categorize different types of conflict
• Character Insight – Analyze how conflicts reveal motivation, flaws, and internal struggles
• Theme Development – Connect personal and interpersonal conflicts to themes of class, morality, desire, and illusion
• Critical Thinking – Use textual details to justify conflict classifications

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Aligned with high school literature and analytical reasoning standards
• Structured Sorting Task – Clear categories support focused, text-based thinking
• Discussion-Ready – Ideal for small-group work, class discussion, or formative assessment
• Reflective Writing Extension – Encourages deeper thinking about social commentary and author’s purpose
• Flexible Use – Works well during novel study, review lessons, or exam preparation
• Low Prep – Print-and-use worksheet with organized prompts

This conflict-sorting worksheet helps students move beyond plot summary to examine how Fitzgerald builds meaning through tension and struggle. By categorizing conflicts and reflecting on their significance, learners gain a clearer understanding of how individual desires and societal forces collide in the novel. Whether used as a skill-building activity or a discussion springboard, this worksheet supports thoughtful, evidence-based analysis of The Great Gatsby.

This worksheet is part of our Great Gatsby Worksheets collection.