How do you build an antagonist?

How to write a good antagonist:

Give an antagonist unsavoury goals like Sauron or Lord Voldemort.
Make your antagonist’s backstory believable.
Make your antagonist’s misdeeds require decisive action.
Show how your antagonist outwits opponents.
Reveal the power your antagonist has over other characters.

What is an antagonist example?

The antagonist can be one character or a group of characters. In traditional narratives, the antagonist is synonymous with “the bad guy.” Examples of antagonists include Iago from William Shakespeare’s Othello, Darth Vader from the original Star Wars trilogy, and Lord Voldemort from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

What makes a good antagonist?

A strong antagonist is highly motivated to act. Strong and understandable motivations will make your antagonist feel like a real person and make the story that much better. The more plausible you make these motivation, the richer your villain, and the easier it will be to plot later.

What makes a good protagonist?

A great protagonist has the ability to learn from his experiences and become a better (though not always) person. He won’t be the same person he was when the story started. Something about the person is interesting. Maybe she’s funny and likeable.

What characteristics make a good antagonist?

Common traits of many traditional antagonists include:

Driven by a goal or duty, or a desire to avoid something.
Has a relatable character flaw.
Loyal to cause, family, and allies.
Adapts easily to obstacles and change.
Has a secret or important information.
Superior intelligence or strength.

What are characteristics of a villain?

Villain Characteristics Checklist:

He’s convinced he’s the good guy.
He has many likeable qualities.
He’s a worthy enough opponent to make your hero look good.
You (and your reader) like when he’s on stage.
He’s clever and accomplished enough that people must lend him begrudging respect.
He can’t be a fool or a bumbler.

How do you identify the antagonist?

Here’s a quick and simple definition: An antagonist is usually a character who opposes the protagonist (or main character) of a story, but the antagonist can also be a group of characters, institution, or force against which the protagonist must contend.

What are the qualities of a protagonist?

However, most protagonists display common traits, which set them apart from the other characters:

Driven by a goal, duty, or curiosity.
Has a relatable character flaw.
Loyal to cause, family, and allies.
Experiences change.
Brave and courageous.
Superior intelligence or strength.
Invokes trust or likeability.

What makes a protagonist a protagonist?

The most common definition of protagonist is the leading character of a drama or literary work. You can see the relation to its Greek root word in the sense that the character is important in the plot. Sometimes, the term hero refers to a male protagonist. Heroine refers to a female protagonist.