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Literature vocabulary · Character and Characterization

Antagonist

Meaning in literature, with examples

/ænˈtæɡənɪst/nounCore term

In literature, antagonist means: The character or force that opposes the main character and creates the central conflict of a story.

In Turkish: antagonist, karşıt karakter, kötü karakter

How it is used

Used with protagonist in essays and creative writing classes. The antagonist is often a villain, but it can also be society, nature or a part of the protagonist's own mind. Critics praise a well-drawn antagonist with understandable motives.

Example sentences

  1. In this novel the real antagonist is not a person but the small town itself.

  2. A good antagonist believes he is doing the right thing.

Common collocations

  • main antagonist
  • the antagonist's motives
  • protagonist and antagonist
  • a compelling antagonist
  • protagonistThe main character of a story, whose goals, problems and choices drive the plot and whom the reader follows most closely.
  • conflictThe struggle between opposing forces in a story, such as two characters, a character and society, or a character and their own desires, which drives the plot.
  • characterA person, or sometimes an animal or creature, who takes part in the events of a story, play or poem.
  • foilA character whose qualities contrast with those of another character, usually the protagonist, so that the other character's traits stand out more clearly.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Character and Characterization

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