8 Common Character Roles!

Character roles Character roles describe what

FUNCTION each character has in a story Characters in stories fill certain “jobs”

that are critical to the story’s plot, theme, and moral lesson

Some character roles overlap meaning one character can have more than one role in the story.

Protagonist Responsible for handling the main

conflict in the story. This character is the one MOST in need

of change, emotionally Primarily is a “good guy”

Protagonist Examples

Antagonist Primarily a ‘bad guy’ Character that opposes the protagonist

on all counts (emotionally and physically)

Antagonist can also be a group of people, or a non-human force of some kind

Antagonist Examples

MENTOR The protagonist’s conscience This character usually embodies

(carries) the thematic message. Voices or represents the lesson that the

protagonist must learn in order to change and achieve his/her goals

Mentors aren’t perfect, can still be flawed

MENTOR examples

Tempter Like the antagonist, the tempter tries to

stand in the way of the protagonist achieving their goals

Tempter might try to manipulate or convince protagonist to join the “dark side”

In the end, the tempter can change his mind and realize the value of the “good side”

Tempter Examples

Sidekick! The protagonist’s unconditionally loving

friend May get frustrated with the protagonist,

but will always stand by them Usually embodies the thematic message

of the story without even realising it (The mentor can EXPLAIN the theme,

while the sidekick just does it without even thinking about it)

SIDEkick Examples

Skeptic The lone objector to the theme/plot/plan Does not believe in the theme OR in the

importance of the protagonist reaching his goal

May like the protagonist and want them to succeed, but they are too skeptical to be loyal or help make this happen

Can have a change of heart by end of story

Skeptic Examples

Emotional Acts according to their gut, lets

emotions fuel their decisions Impulsive and reactive Might run into trouble by acting on

impulses before thinking/planning them out

Acts with their heart, not their head

Emotional Examples

Logical The rational thinker; plans things out Shoots for logical solutions and gives

reasonable suggestions/answers Serves as a “voice of reason” or a

cautionary voice when someone is about to act impulsively

Logical Examples