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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Secondary characters in character-study fiction?

Asked by: Patricia Lee

They are those in our stories who play a significant role, and appear in multiple scenes, but who are not the main focus of the primary plot. These supporting characters may be the focal point of their own subplots and so they are integral to the story as a whole.

Who are the secondary characters and how are they linked to the main characters?

Primary Characters: The major players in a story, appearing in numerous scenes throughout the script, the focal point of the Plotline and/or key subplots. Secondary Characters: Important but supporting roles, generally appearing in fewer scenes and with a narrower narrative function.

What are the 4 types of characters in fiction?

The 4 Main Characters As Literary Devices

  • The Protagonist.
  • The Antagonist.
  • The Confidant.
  • The Love Interest.

How many secondary characters are there?

A good rule of thumb might be: Include as many characters as needed to tell the story and evoke the proper style and scope—and no more. For intimate novels, this number might be as small as 2-5 secondary characters, and for broader stories, this number might be 20-30.

What are the two main functions of secondary characters?

Secondary characters add depth and interest to the world your main character inhabits, helping to make the tale more memorable. They play a significant role in your story, but aren’t necessarily integral to the plot. These characters may be protagonists or antagonists of their own subplots.

What are the 6 character types?

The different types of characters include protagonists, antagonists, dynamic, static, round, flat, and stock.

What do you call the second protagonist?

The definition of a deuteragonist (from the Greek deuteragōnistēs, for “second actor”) is the second most important and present character in a story—often called a secondary main character.

What are secondary characters in a story?

So, what are secondary characters? They are those in our stories who play a significant role, and appear in multiple scenes, but who are not the main focus of the primary plot. These supporting characters may be the focal point of their own subplots and so they are integral to the story as a whole.

How do you create a secondary character?

How Do You Write A Secondary Character?

  1. Build A Backstory. …
  2. Give Them Autonomy. …
  3. Create A Distinct Identity. …
  4. Give Each Character A Distinct Name. …
  5. Stick To A Few Secondary Characters. …
  6. Use Them To Develop The Protagonist. …
  7. Dynamic Characters. …
  8. Round Characters.

How do secondary characters and circumstances shape the main protagonist?

Secondary characters not only offer your protagonist someone to talk to, but they also bring your story to life. They can provide comic relief in a tense scene, or do the opposite and increase the tension.

Can secondary characters be animals?

The animal characters may be secondary sidekicks (comic relief), protagonists, or antagonists.



Who are the secondary characters in Romeo and Juliet?

In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, three secondary characters, Friar Lawrence, Capulet and Tybalt all play vital roles throughout the play. The play takes place in Verona and focuses on Romeo and Juliet, two star-crossed lovers from two feuding families; the Montagues and the Capulets.

Can a protagonist be a side character?

Some writers like to mix it up by choosing someone that does not have the central role in the story and tell the story from their perspective. This is the Supporting Protagonist: someone who would normally be a secondary character by conventions of the genre but is actually the main character in the story.

What is a foil character?

In literature, authors will sometimes highlight certain aspects of a character’s personality by using a foil: a supporting character who has a contrasting personality and set of values. Putting the foil and main character in close proximity helps draw readers’ attention to the latter’s attributes.

What is a deuteragonist?

Definition of deuteragonist

1 : the actor taking the part of second importance in a classical Greek drama. 2 : a person who serves as a foil to another.