Types of Characters You Need to Know

1. Protagonist 

This word comes from greek and means "chief actor". 

The protagonist is the central character in a story and the plot revolves around the life of the protagonist. All characters are defined in relation to the protagonist.

Examples: Harry Potter, Walter White, Indiana Jones, Hercule Poirot, Dorothy Gale, John McClane, Katniss Everdeen, Frodo Baggins

2. Hero 

Hero and Protagonist are often the same in literary works. But the hero and protagonist can be different. The protagonist is the one story follows while the hero is one with super courage, character, and willpower. 

3. Antagonist

The character that antagonizes and opposes the protagonist. 

Examples: Sauron, Voldemort, The White Witch, Count Olaf, Maleficent, Iago, Regina George.

4. Deuteragonist

Some stories have primary protagonist and a secondary deuteragonist (sidekick) who isn't exactly in spotlight yet pretty close to it. 

Examples: Ron & Hermoine, Samwise Gamgee, Jane Bennet, Dr. Watson, Mercutio

5. Tertiary Characters

The tertiary characters appear once or twice through out the book. Imagine the people you don't know much about but you see them and they have very little part in your life. 

Examples: Mr. Poe in A Series of Unfortunate Events, Padma and Parvati Patil in Harry Potter, Madame Stahl in Anna Karenina.

6. Love Interest

Entangled in love lives intertwine throughout the plot, the subplot or just a blip on the narrative radar - but there is at certain levels depiction of romantic attachments among characters. 

Examples: Mr. Darcy, Daisy Buchanan, Romeo/Juliet, Peeta Mellark, Edward Cullen, Mary Jane Watson.

7. Confidant 

The character that is close to the protagonist, it may be a friend, a mentor, or a parent with whom the protagonist shares and maintains a certain bond.

Examples: Horation, Friar Laurence, Alfred Pennyworth, Mrs. Lovett, Jacob Black, Dumbledore, Hannibal Lecter.

8. Round Character

A dynamic or round character is one who changes over the course of the story. 

Examples: Elizabeth Bennet, Don Quixote, Ebenezer Scrooge, Neville Longbottom, Han Solo, Walter White.

9. Flat Character 

Flat characters are static and they do not change dramatically throughout the story.

Examples: Mr. Collins, Miss Havisham, Harry and Zinnia Wormwood (Matilda's parents), Sherlock Holmes, and Karen Smith. Course Home