A protagonist (from Ancient Greek πρωταγωνιστής, prōtagōnistḗs ‘one who plays the first part, chief actor’) is the main character of a story. … The protagonist is the primary agent propelling the story forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles.

1a(1) : the principal character in a literary work (such as a drama or story) (2) : the leading actor or principal character in a television show, movie, book, etc.

Subsequently, What is protagonist example?

A protagonist in a story has some type of problem or conflict. In many stories, the protagonist has an antagonist-someone or something that is in conflict with the protagonist. Examples of Protagonist: … In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet are the protagonists.

Also, Is the protagonist good or bad?

While in many narratives, the protagonist is synonymous with “the good guy,” the word “protagonist” is simply from an Ancient Greek word meaning “one who plays the first part, chief actor.” The definition of protagonist has nothing to do with a character’s internal moral compass: a protagonist can be both a “good” …

Can the protagonist be evil?

Short answer: yes, a protagonist can be evil. Villain protagonists are nowhere near as common as heroes, but can be done well if you do the necessary character-building, which we’ll go into shortly. Sometimes the villain protagonist will start evil and become a better person at the end.

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What defines a protagonist?

Protagonist comes from a Greek word for the principal actor in a drama. In modern literature, the protagonist drives the story forward by pursuing a goal. The protagonist of a story is sometimes called the main character. The protagonist of a story is opposed by an antagonist.

What is the literary definition of protagonist?

Definition & Examples of a Protagonist The protagonist is the main character in a story. This character acts as a catalyst to the story’s plot by moving it forward in some way. Learn more about what protagonists are and how they’re used in stories told in literature, film, theater, and more.

Is protagonist a literary device?

If we want to create memorable protagonists, we have to remember their purpose in our stories. As A Literary Device: The protagonist exists as a sympathetic device to drive a story. To be effective in this role, they are usually there from the inciting moment to the end.

What is literary protagonist?

The most common definition of protagonist is the leading character of a drama or literary work. You can see the relation to its Greek root word in the sense that the character is important in the plot. Sometimes, the term hero refers to a male protagonist.

What are literary devices in writing?

What Is a Literary Device? A literary device is a tool used by writers to hint at larger themes, ideas, and meaning in a story or piece of writing. There are many styles of literary devices, each serving a different purpose. Some operate at the sentence level, while others serve the piece of writing as a whole.

What is an example of protagonist?

A person who is a leader, activist, proponent, etc. Protagonist is defined as the main character of a story. An example of protagonist is Alice in the story, Alice in Wonderland. … A leading person in a contest; a principal performer.

Is Characterisation a literary device?

Characterization is a literary device that is used step-by-step in literature to highlight and explain the details about a character in a story. … After introducing the character, the writer often talks about his behavior; then, as the story progresses, the thought-processes of the character.

What is a good protagonist?

2. He has the ability to act. Protagonists who do nothing but react to the situation are boring. A good protagonist makes things happen and moves the story along through his actions and choices. If your protagonist isn’t in a position to affect change, consider how you can adjust it so he is.

What are some examples of protagonist?

– In The Hunger Games, Katniss is the protagonist. …
– In Charlotte’s Web, the protagonist is Wilbur. …
– In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet are the protagonists. …
– In MacBeth, MacBeth is the protagonist. …
– In the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ferris is the protagonist.

What is the example of protagonist?

Protagonist is defined as the main character of a story. An example of protagonist is Alice in the story, Alice in Wonderland. The main character in a any story, such as a literary work or drama.

Can a protagonist die?

Quite simply, it is impossible to kill off the protagonist before the end of the story. In short, no your protagonist is impossible to kill off before the end of the story. If the story continues then by definition they were not the protagonist just a main/major character.

Is a protagonist always good?

While in many narratives, the protagonist is synonymous with “the good guy,” the word “protagonist” is simply from an Ancient Greek word meaning “one who plays the first part, chief actor.” The definition of protagonist has nothing to do with a character’s internal moral compass: a protagonist can be both a “good” …

Is the protagonist the hero?

Like hero, protagonist is a noun that can mean the leading character in a story. However, unlike hero, which historically has only referred to a male characters, a protagonist is defined as “a hero or heroine of a drama or other literary work.”

What is an example of a antagonist?

The antagonist can be one character or a group of characters. In traditional narratives, the antagonist is synonymous with “the bad guy.” Examples of antagonists include Iago from William Shakespeare’s Othello, Darth Vader from the original Star Wars trilogy, and Lord Voldemort from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

Does the protagonist always win?

No, your protagonist does not have to succeed. Your protagonist has to arrive at some difficult choice and make a choice that the reader finds emotionally or morally satisfying. That does not mean that they have to win the fight with the antagonist, either immediately or in the future.

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