Genesis and Evolution of Literary Conflict: From Antiquity to Middle Ages

This article analyzes the genesis and evolution of literary conflict from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. Employing historical-philosophical and literary critical methods, the authors investigate the theoretical underpinnings of conflict, its structural features, and its transformations across different eras. Particular attention is paid to a comparative analysis of the approaches of ancient philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato, and the interpretations of conflict in medieval literature, where internal moral and spiritual contradictions predominate. The findings reveal that the development of conflict reflects shifts in societal cultural and philosophical values, leading to reinterpretations of both external and internal aspects of literary works. The study concludes that literary conflict is a dynamic and multifaceted phenomenon crucial for deep textual interpretation. Analysis of classical and medieval texts reveals specific mechanisms of conflict formation, while a comparative approach facilitates a nuanced understanding of evolutionary processes within literary discourse. The historical development of literary conflict, therefore, mirrors changing philosophical and cultural values, imbuing conflict with new meaning and form in each historical period. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.