ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -antagonist, in literature, the principal opponent or foil of the main character, who is referred to as the protagonist, in a drama or narrative. The word is from the Greek antagnistḗs, “opponent or rival.”

Detailed explanation-2: -In storytelling, the antagonist is the opposer or combatant working against the protagonist’s or leading characters’ goal (“antagonizing”) and creating the main conflict. The antagonist can be one character or a group of characters.

Detailed explanation-3: -A rival might be an outright antagonist-someone standing in your hero’s way-or he might not mean any harm but just creates conflict. A rival’s negative feelings toward the hero might be clear or subconscious. A rival might purposely cause obstacles for the hero or he might do so unknowingly.

Detailed explanation-4: -Examples of protagonists and antagonists in films In almost every narrative film, there is a protagonist and an antagonist. The protagonist is the “good guy” main character who drives the story forward, while the antagonist is the “bad guy” main character or force that stands in the way of the protagonist’s goals.

Detailed explanation-5: -The antagonist is the primary opponent of the protagonist, and the biggest obstacle standing between the main character and their goal. This term also derives from Greek: anti, meaning “against, ” and agonist, meaning actor.