Antagonists in AP English Literature

Definition

Antagonists are characters or forces that oppose or create conflicts for the protagonists. They act as obstacles to hinder the protagonist's progress.

Related terms

Protagonists:

Protagonists are the main characters in a story who drive the plot forward and face conflicts or challenges. They are usually the ones with whom readers sympathize and root for.

Villains: Villains are specific types of antagonists who possess malicious intentions and actively work against the protagonist.

External Conflict:

External conflicts involve struggles between a character and an outside force, which can be an antagonist.