The literary term for conflict in literature is_________

1. Analyze the question The question asks for the literary term that means "conflict." We need to match that meaning to one of the four options.

2. Explain the concepts

• Agon: from Greek, meaning "contest" or "struggle." In literature, it is the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist. In Greek drama, the agon is the central debate or struggle between characters. The word "protagonist" itself means "first contestant in the agon," and "antagonist" means "opponent."
• Hubris: excessive pride or overconfidence, often leading to a character's downfall.
• Hamartia: a tragic flaw or error in judgment that leads to the hero's downfall (e.g., Okonkwo's fear of weakness in Things Fall Apart).
• Anaphora: a figure of speech where the same word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.

3. Solution

• Hubris describes pride, not conflict. ❌
• Hamartia describes a flaw or error, not conflict. ❌
• Anaphora is a repetition device, not conflict. ❌
• Agon means the struggle or conflict between opposing forces or characters. ✅

4. Answer The correct option is A. Agon.

5. Exam tip Link the word agon to antagonist and protagonist, since both contain the root meaning "contest." Also remember this trio of tragedy terms often tested together:

• Hubris = Pride
• Hamartia = Flaw
• Agon = Conflict