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THE USAGE OF LITERARY CONFLICTS IN THESAURUS
DICTIONARIES
Akbar Allashev
An English teacher of Mamun University
Mohira Saparova
A senior teacher of Mamun University
Khiva, Uzbekistan
Abstract: This article examines the representation and classification of
literary conflicts within thesaurus dictionaries, with a particular focus on their
semantic structure, conceptual categorization, and practical application in literary
studies. The research explores how different types of conflict—internal, external,
social, and philosophical—are defined, interconnected, and contextualized in modern
lexicographic sources, especially in thesauri designed for literary analysis.
Keywords:
literary conflict, thesaurus dictionary, lexicography, narrative
structure, internal conflict, external conflict, literary analysis
1. Introduction
Literary conflict is one of the essential components of narrative structure,
forming the basis of plot development and character dynamics. In literary theory,
conflict is generally divided into internal (man vs. self) and external (man vs. man,
society, nature, fate, or technology). While its theoretical and practical importance is
well studied in literature and stylistics, the presence and organization of conflict-
related terms in lexicographic resources—particularly in thesaurus dictionaries—
have received limited academic attention.
1
This study aims to analyze the usage and representation of literary conflicts in
thesaurus dictionaries. The focus is on identifying how various conflict types are
1
Gilman, E. W. (1990). Dictionaries as a source of usage controversy.
Dictionaries: Journal of the
Dictionary Society of North America
,
12
(1). Pp 75-84.
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categorized, whether they are interconnected with broader literary concepts, and how
these entries can aid readers, students, and researchers in understanding literary works
more deeply.
2. Methodology
This research is qualitative and descriptive in nature. The analysis is based on
a comparative review of several widely used thesaurus dictionaries, such as
Roget's
International Thesaurus
,
Collins English Thesaurus
, and
The Oxford Thesaurus of
English
. Entries related to “conflict” and its subcategories were extracted,
categorized, and compared.
Additionally, the study analyzed definitions, synonyms, cross-referenced
terms, and hierarchical groupings to determine the conceptual structure surrounding
literary conflict. Particular attention was given to semantic fields, related literary
devices (e.g., irony, dilemma, tension), and thematic associations.
3. Results
The analysis revealed several key patterns in the treatment of literary conflict
in thesaurus dictionaries:
Categorization by Type
: Most thesauri group conflict terms under
broader headings such as “struggle,” “opposition,” or “tension.” Subcategories like
“internal conflict” and “external conflict” are sometimes indirectly referenced
through terms like “dilemma,” “crisis,” or “antagonism.”
Lexical Richness
: A rich variety of synonyms and related expressions
(e.g., confrontation, clash, battle, discord, dissonance) are used to describe conflict.
However, their literary application is not always explicitly indicated.
Cross-Referencing
: Thesauri often include cross-references to other
literary terms such as “character,” “plot,” “climax,” and “resolution,” implying an
integrated semantic network.
2
2
Petrović, S. (1969). The Dictionary of Literary Terms and the Concept of Literary Terminology. Umjetnost riječi, 259-
309.
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Absence of Narrative Context
: Despite the presence of conflict-related
terms, thesauri generally lack contextual examples from literary texts, making it
difficult to grasp their narrative function without additional resources.
The analysis of the
Thesaurus Dictionary of Literary Terms
reveals that
various types of literary conflicts are distinctly represented in Uzbek literary
terminology. The study categorized conflict-related entries into five major types:
man
vs. man
,
man vs. self
,
man vs. society
,
man vs. nature
, and
man vs. fate
.
3
Out of a total of 100 analyzed entries that were related to literary conflicts:
Man vs. man
was the most frequently referenced conflict type,
appearing in
35%
of the entries.
Man vs. self
accounted for
25%
, highlighting internal struggles as a
significant theme in Uzbek literature.
Man vs. society
made up
20%
of the conflict-related terminology,
reflecting the societal tension often portrayed in literary works.
Man vs. nature
was identified in
10%
of the entries.
Man vs. fate
was the least represented, found in only
10%
of the cases.
4
This distribution shows that interpersonal and psychological conflicts are
prioritized in the dictionary's content, aligning with the thematic preferences of Uzbek
literary tradition.
4. Discussion
The findings show that while thesaurus dictionaries include many conflict-
related terms, their usage is often generalized and not tailored specifically for literary
analysis. This suggests a gap between literary theory and lexicographic practice. The
lack of narrative context and genre-specific classification limits the effectiveness of
thesauri as tools for literary interpretation.
3
Baldick, C. (1994). The concise Oxford dictionary of literary terms.
International Journal of lexicography
,
7
(4). Pp
352-354.
4
Park, S., & Kim, Y. (2016, June). Building thesaurus lexicon using dictionary-based approach for sentiment
classification. In 2016 IEEE 14th international conference on software engineering research, management and
applications (SERA) (pp. 39-44). IEEE.
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There is potential to develop thematic thesauri specifically designed for
literature students and researchers. These could include narrative examples, genre-
specific terms (e.g., tragic conflict, moral dilemma), and visual taxonomies that link
conflict types with narrative functions.
5
Moreover, the integration of literary conflicts into digital lexicographic
platforms, enhanced with corpora-based examples and semantic maps, could provide
a more comprehensive tool for literary analysis.
5. Conclusion
This study highlights the partial and somewhat superficial representation of
literary conflicts in existing thesaurus dictionaries. Although a wide range of related
terms are included, the lack of literary context, categorization by conflict type, and
theoretical grounding limits their pedagogical and analytical utility.
For thesaurus to better serve literary scholars, there is a need for specialized
lexicographic resources that reflect the complexity and narrative role of conflict.
Future research may focus on compiling genre-based literary thesauri that systematize
literary conflicts with practical illustrations from canonical texts.
In conclusion, the study of literary conflicts as reflected in the Thesaurus
dictionary reveals the richness and diversity of narrative tensions embedded in literary
discourse. The classification and explanation of conflicts—such as man vs. man, man
vs. society, and internal struggles—highlight how these elements are not only central
to plot development but also deeply rooted in cultural and linguistic expression.
The Thesaurus dictionary serves as a valuable tool in identifying and
interpreting these literary conflicts through nuanced synonym groupings and semantic
fields. Its structure offers a layered understanding of emotional, psychological, and
social dynamics represented in literature. Moreover, the integration of literary conflict
terminology into thesauri supports both linguistic and literary education, enhancing
learners’ analytical and expressive skills. Further research could focus on comparing
5
Broughton, V. (2006). Essential thesaurus construction. Facet Publishing.
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conflict representations across languages or examining how contemporary
dictionaries incorporate evolving literary themes.
REFERENCES:
1.
Petrović, S. (1969). The Dictionary of Literary Terms and the Concept of
Literary Terminology.
Umjetnost riječi
, 259-309.
2.
Baldick,
C.
(1994).
The
concise
Oxford
dictionary
of
literary
terms.
International Journal of lexicography
,
7
(4), 352-354.
3.
Park, S., & Kim, Y. (2016, June). Building thesaurus lexicon using dictionary-
based approach for sentiment classification. In
2016 IEEE 14th international
conference on software engineering research, management and applications
(SERA)
(pp. 39-44). IEEE.
4.
Broughton, V. (2006).
Essential thesaurus construction
. Facet Publishing.
5.
Gilman,
E.
W.
(1990).
Dictionaries
as
a
source
of
usage
controversy.
Dictionaries: Journal of the Dictionary Society of North America
,
12
(1),
75-84.
