Characters
Characters are the most important part of a story. The best stories have characters that
are well developed, interesting, and believable. There are several different types of
characters in narratives. A few are described below, using Disney’s The Lion King as a
framework

Protagonist: the leading or main character of a novel, short story, or play.
Protagonists are often seen as the heroes or the “good guy” in a novel. In short,
a story revolves around the protagonist.
o Example: Simba: He is the main character and the “good” guy

Antagonist: a character who is against or opposed to someone else, often the
protagonist, in a story. The characters are often viewed as the enemy or the “bad
guy”. Antagonists are an important source of conflicts in many stories.
o Example: Scar: Scar is the evil character who creates the conflict of the
story; if he hadn’t killed Mufasa, Simba wouldn’t have left Pride Rock

Supporting character: a character that gives more dimensions to the main
character because of their relationship. Supporting characters are usually friends
with or related to the main character. The story could take place without them,
but they play an important role of giving the story more depth.
o Example: Pumba: Although Pumba is funny and plays a big part in the
story, he is not essential to the plot line, and exists mostly to help us learn
more about Simba’s character

Round character: an extremely well developed and believable character that
seems to act as if a real person. Round characters are complex and interesting.
o Example: Simba: We know a lot about Simba’s likes, dislikes, and views;
his character is extremely well developed, and we watch both his
physical and emotional growth develop over time

Flat character: a less developed character that experiences no emotional or
psychological growth in a story. Flat characters often lack realistic or complex
personalities and are typically minor characters.
o Example: Zazu: Zazu’s personality and views do not change at all
throughout the whole film. We don’t know much about him other than
surface details about his appearance/personality