Types of Characters – Download A Free Character Worksheet
Types of Characters
- Protagonist – This is the main character of the story. The Hero. The Good Guy.
- Antagonist – This is the character who creates obstacles and conflicts for the main character. The Bad Guy.
- Supporting Characters – They help the protagonist along. They are friends, family, and allies, among others.
A Story can exist without an antagonist, but it always has a protagonist.
A story can have no antagonist. In such cases, the story may focus on the protagonist’s internal conflicts or personal growth as a source of strife. Or the conflict is caused by external factors such as nature or society. The story can also focus on a goal or objective that the protagonist has to achieve, without any specific opposition or obstruction.
More on Supporting Characters
There is a wide variety of Supporting Characters in a story. Each one is designed to move the plot forward, and get the protagonist to the finishing end. As earlier discussed, you can make Supporting Characters Static or Dynamic, depending on the message you want to give with your story.
Types of supporting characters include:
– The mentor: a wise and experienced guide who helps the protagonist on their journey.
– The love interest: a romantic interest for the protagonist. There may be more than one.
– The sidekick: a loyal friend or companion to the protagonist, or even the antagonist.
– The comic relief: a character who provides humor in the story. They break the drama.
– The foil: a character who contrasts with the protagonist, highlighting the protagonist’s traits and characteristics.
– The ally: a character that helps the protagonist, can be obvious or unexpected.
– The confidant: a character who is privy to the protagonist’s thoughts and feelings.
These are some of the more popular types of supporting characters, but there are many variations and combinations. Supporting characters can also have their own arc and development.
Craft a supporting character of your own to add color to your story.
Print the character worksheet above and create character profiles for the cast in your story.