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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

What could the Antagonistic Force be in a Crime Mystery?

Asked by: Bobby Jandia

What are antagonistic forces?

Antagonism is one of the critical tools of storytelling. Stories don’t move forward without conflict, and conflict is produced by antagonists. These can be individual villains or forces of society (even forces of nature), but it’s important to consider how you treat any antagonist.

What can an antagonist be?

An antagonist is usually a character who opposes the protagonist (or main character) of a story, but the antagonist can also be a group of characters, institution, or force against which the protagonist must contend.

What is the antagonist of a story?

antagonist, in literature, the principal opponent or foil of the main character, who is referred to as the protagonist, in a drama or narrative. The word is from the Greek antagnistḗs, “opponent or rival.”

Can the antagonist be an event?

An antagonist may not always be a person or people. In some cases, an antagonist may be a force, such as a tidal wave that destroys a city; a storm that causes havoc; or even a certain area’s conditions that are the root cause of a problem. An antagonist also may or may not create obstacles for the protagonist.

What are examples of antagonists?

Antagonist Examples

  • Darth Vadar is the main antagonist of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.
  • Mr. …
  • The wolf is the antagonist in “The Three Little Pigs.”
  • MacDuff is an antagonist of Macbeth in Macbeth.
  • In Dr. …
  • In the movie Aladdin, Jafar is the antagonist.

What are the types of antagonism?

There are two types of antagonism: competitive (reversible, surmountable) and non-competitive (irreversible, insurmountable).

Can the antagonist be an object?

While antagonists can take the form of classic villains, they don’t necessarily need to be human at all. In many stories, the antagonist is a force of nature, technology, or even an inanimate object.

What is an antagonistic person?

a person who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another; opponent; adversary. the adversary of the hero or protagonist of a drama or other literary work: Iago is the antagonist of Othello. Physiology.

What are some characteristics of an antagonist?

Common traits of many traditional antagonists include:

  • Driven by a goal or duty, or a desire to avoid something.
  • Has a relatable character flaw.
  • Loyal to cause, family, and allies.
  • Adapts easily to obstacles and change.
  • Has a secret or important information.
  • Superior intelligence or strength.

Can fear be an antagonist?

Type #4: The Internal Antagonist

This obstacle is typically a doubt, fear, flaw, or false belief, which the protagonist may or may not recognize as a hindrance.



Can society be an antagonist?

The antagonist does not have to be human, nor must it even be a sentient being. Antagonists can be “bad guys” but they can also be natural disasters, an oppressive society or even the protagonist himself.

How do you make an antagonist?

How to write a good antagonist:

  1. Give an antagonist unsavoury goals like Sauron or Lord Voldemort.
  2. Make your antagonist’s backstory believable.
  3. Make your antagonist’s misdeeds require decisive action.
  4. Show how your antagonist outwits opponents.
  5. Reveal the power your antagonist has over other characters.

What is a good antagonist?

A good antagonist is a lot like a good protagonist. They need to have a compelling backstory. Just as you build the world and the life of your hero, the same should be done for your antihero. Antagonists should be really good at something.

How do you make a realistic antagonist?

5 Tips for Making Antagonists Realistic and Non-Cheesy

  1. Give him/her a background. A good writer will never let his/her antagonist just be a personification of evil, without any backstory. …
  2. They are real people too. …
  3. Make them interesting. …
  4. Not necessarily a villain, but has a tragic flaw. …
  5. But make them powerful.