Character Types
The Protagonist is the lead character and the story’s focus. They are also referred to as the main character. A story opens with a critical moment in this character’s life. They often want something and are about to take a risk to get it.
• In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Juliet wants to marry Romeo, but their families are sworn enemies. She goes against her parents’ wishes and fakes her own death to secretly marry Romeo.
The Antagonist is the character who causes conflict for the protagonist but doesn’t think they are antagonistic. Antagonists are protagonists of their own story. The antagonist might have evil intent, but they could also be a friend or a family member who wants something for themselves and that desire creates internal conflict for the protagonist, like a mom who doesn’t want her son to go out of state for college because she wants him to stay close to home or a dependable boyfriend who a protagonist wants to break up with after developing feelings for someone else. Antagonists cause drama, and drama makes a story engaging.
• Juliet’s cousin Tybalt hates the Montagues (Romeo’s family) and challenges Romeo to a duel.
• Juliet’s parents want her to marry someone else (Paris).
Supporting Characters give meaning to the protagonist’s journey. They help the protagonist make decisions and move the story along. They might also get in the way of the protagonist, provide comic relief, or offer thematic reflection. Supporting characters can be sidekicks, friends, family, community members, or love interests. Though they are not the central focus of the story, they are fully formed characters with their own wants and characteristics.
• The Nurse is Juliet’s caretaker. She tries to give Juliet guidance and finds her after Juliet drinks the potion to fake her death.
• Paris is the man Juliet’s father wants her to marry.
• Benvolio is Romeo’s cousin and the unsuccessful peacemaker of the play.
• Friar Laurence serves as an advisor to Romeo and Juliet and orchestrates their (failed) reunion.
PROMPT:
• Imagine yourself as the protagonist of a story. List personality traits you have but choose one trait that you don’t have to set yourself apart from this character.
• What hobbies do you enjoy? Add an unexpected or unusual hobby to make this protagonist unique.
• What does this protagonist want more than anything else?
• Create an antagonist who wants something that is at odds with what this protagonist wants. (Remember: antagonists don’t consider themselves antagonists. They are protagonists of their own story and have their own motives and desires.)
Write a scene where the protagonist tries to go after what they want but have the antagonist get in their way (because of what the antagonist wants).
PROMPT:
• What is a secret (good or bad) that a protagonist could have?
• Create an antagonist who can’t find out about this secret.
Write the opening paragraph of a story and show the protagonist hiding their secret from the antagonist.
PROMPT:
• Think about something that a young protagonist might want.
• Who tends to be around them?
Write a speech from this supporting character’s perspective, encouraging the protagonist to take a step towards (or away from) what they want.
For more writing instruction, prompts, and project ideas, buy THE YOUNG WRITER’S FICTION WORKBOOK.