Characters

Characters

Summer English Bridge Course

Every work of fiction or drama needs characters. Whether they are people or animals, robots or creatures from outer space, their thoughts, feelings, actions, and reactions drive the plot.

Characters move the action forward, so they are inseparable from the plot. Authors construct characters through description, dialogue, and situations that reveal their personalities and traits, such as whether they are honest or devious, humorous or clever.

The main character in a story or play—the one the story revolves around and who usually has a problem to solve—is called the protagonist

The character whose goals work against the protagonist is called the antagonist. Minor characters provide support for the protagonist and antagonist, helping to reveal aspects of their personalities. Think of the plot as the engine, and the main character as the person behind the steering wheel.