Transcript Protagonist and Antagonist

PROTAGONIST AND ANTAGONIST
Opposing Forces Moving the Story Forward
PROTAGONIST
Definition: The character the story revolves around.
The one pursuing the Story Goal.
• Generally the Hero or Good Guy.
• Generally the Main Character.
• Can be a Bad Guy or Villain (if the story revolves around
them).
ANTAGONIST
Definition: A character or force that opposes the
protagonist.
• Many times it is the Villain or Bad Guy.
• If the protagonist is the villain or bad guy, then it can be
the Good Guy, Police, or the Law.
• It isn’t always a character, it can be a force, an idea, a
universal law, internal struggle, or any other thing that
opposes the protagonist.
• It propels the story forward – it requires the protagonist
to act or react and to make choices.
PROTAGONIST AND ANTAGONIST
THINK OPPOSITES
In literature, it won’t always be this easy to
identify (Oh, if life could be as simple as Elmo).
Many times, the reader needs to think to
really figure out what is in opposition.
LET’S LOOK AT SOME STORIES YOU ARE
PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH.
LET’S CONSIDER THE
PROTAGONIST AND ANTAGONIST
HARRY POTTER SERIES
Protagonist – Harry Potter
Antagonist – Voldemort
TWILIGHT SERIES
Protagonist – Bella
Antagonist – Volturi
STAR WARS
Protagonist – Luke Skywalker
Antagonist – Darth Vader
STAR WARS
Protagonist – Anakin Skywalker
Antagonist – Darth Sidious
LORD OF THE RINGS
Protagonist – Frodo
Antagonist – Sauron
This character is a spirit–no physical body
CAST AWAY
Protagonist – Chuck Noland
Antagonist – The Island, being stranded.
HUNGER GAMES
Protagonist – Katniss Everdeen
Antagonist – The Society
OCEAN’S ELEVEN
Protagonist – Danny Ocean
Expert Thief and Crime Mastermind
Antagonist – Terry Benedict
Casino Owner in Las Vegas
THE GODFATHER SERIES
Protagonist – Michael Corleone
Crime Boss–great example of bad guy.
Antagonist – The Family, the mob business,
other mob families.
NOW YOU TRY
WHO IS THE PROTAGONIST?
WHO / WHAT IS THE ANTAGONIST?
GROUP PROJECT
1 sheet of paper for the group, put everyone’s name on the top. (scribe and spokesperson)
In your group, choose a different story (not the same one you worked on when we covered
themes).
• Identify a Theme
• Identify the Protagonist
• Identify the Antagonist
• List 2 character traits (not physical) for your protagonist and if
the antagonist is a character, 2 for that character as well.
Support all of your claims and ideas from the text!!