Types of Characters in a Story: Roles & Character Archetypes

We have all heard of Winnie-the-Pooh, Harry Potter, and Peter Rabbit. After all, they are the star—or protagonists—of their stories. And who isn’t familiar with the names Hannibal Lecter, Sauron, or Professor Moriarty? Because, of course, every protagonist needs antagonist to battle against. But what about Mrs. Whatsit or Artful Dodger? You may or may not remember them, but the truth is that their respective books wouldn’t be the same without them.

As writers, we know our books are only as good as the characters we cast (or write!) to play each part in the narrative. And creating a compelling story means more than just having a protagonist and an antagonist. It means having a rich cast of secondary and tertiary characters, each of whom fill an important role.

But what are those roles? Let’s take a look at the 7 key roles characters play in literature and the 5 most common qualities that make up their personalities.

Seven types of characters in fiction

Let’s be honest. No matter how hard we as authors may try to write unique stories, there are some things that never change. And one of those things is that we all need characters for our book! We all need that special someone our book is about. Below are the seven primary kinds of characters that may appear in your writing.

Protagonist

A protagonist is the central character in a literary work. This is the character that drives the story forward—the one whom readers will walk closely beside over the course of the narrative. The protagonist is usually a hero or heroine, although there are some characters who blur the lines. One of the most famous examples is the Grinch. Although he carries the narrative, he is not generally seen as a positive character. Rather, he is what might be considered a villain protagonist or an antihero.

How to create a compelling protagonist

Readers are meant to invest their emotions in the protagonist—to root for the protagonist to win—so it’s important to make your character relatable. One of the best ways to do this is by making your protagonist flawed. None of us are perfect, and we as readers can better relate to a hero who isn’t perfect either. Flaws give protagonists weaknesses they have to overcome to achieve their mission. Give your protagonist something to overcome and let the reader see them evolve over the course of the story.

Since the bulk of the narrative hinges on the protagonist, try doing a deep dive into who this character is and what makes them tick. Make sure your protagonist has a rich backstory. Even if that backstory never makes its way into the words on the page, it will still inform how your protagonist engages with the world around them.

Most importantly, make your protagonist’s motivations clear. Let the reader know what they are fighting for—and what they stand to lose if they don’t succeed!

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Famous protagonists

Literature is filled with famous protagonists. Here are just a handful:

• Meg Murry from A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
• Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Matilda from Matilda by Roald Dahl
• Sara Crewe from A Little Princess by Francess Hodgson Burnett

Antagonist

The antagonist is a character who opposes—or antaognizes—the protagonist. Often considered the villain of the story, the antagonist is not the main character in a book. Rather, they sit at the helm of a secondary storyline, secretly operating in the shadows of the narrative and behind the protagonist’s back. Doing what exactly? Creating conflict, of course!

Pro Tip: Be careful not to confuse the antagonist with the role of an antihero. The antihero is frequently the central figure in the story, but unlike a traditional protagonist, the antihero lacks heroic qualities. Instead, the antihero displays villainous qualities.

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How to create a compelling antagonist

Just like the protagonist, an antagonist must have goals. The difference is, while the protagonist is fighting for good, the antagonist is fighting for evil! Let the reader know what the antagonist is after. The more villainous their goals, the better! Don’t forget when creating an antagonist to tell the reader why they want what they do. Give your antagonist a rich backstory. You may even find that your antagonist’s history is more exciting than your protagonist’s. After all, something drove them to evil! Most importantly, remember that your protagonist needs the length of your book to overcome the antagonist. Don’t make the antagonist too easy to defeat. Show the power this character holds over others (and how it is used) and reveal how your antagonist outwits those around him (or her!).

Famous antagonists

Sometimes the antagonists in a book are more memorable than the heroes. Here are a few examples of famous antagonists.

• Uriah Heap from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
• Agatha Trunchbull from Matilda by Roald Dahl
• Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
• Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

Deuteragonist

Also known as the sidekick, the deuteragonist is usually by the protagonist’s side, offering advice and scheming against the villain. The deuteragonist is close to the action, but is not the driving force behind overcoming the challenge or the villain. This role is closely related to the confidant.

Famous deuteragonists

Sometimes the sidekicks in literature are almost as famous as the protagonist. Here are a few examples.

• Dr. Watson from The Adventures of Sherlock Homes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Jim from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• Ronald Weasley from Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
• Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding from Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King

Confidant

Sometimes interchangeable with a novel’s deuteragonist, the confidant functions as a protagonist’s best friend, and oftentimes mentor. This is the character the protagonist turns to when they need help or advice.

Famous confidants

Protagonists can’t work alone. They need help and advice. Here are some examples of the most confidants in literature.

• Dumbledore from Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
• Horatio from Hamlet by William Shakespeare
• Gale from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Tertiary Characters

Tertiary characters come and go from the protagonist’s storyline, sometimes only appearing in passing. They don’t directly affect the protagonist’s trajectory or influence the narrative, but they do provide an extra layer in scenes and function to populate the protagonist’s world. One example of such characters is Padma and Parvati Patil from Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling.

Think for a moment about a typical day in your life—the taxi driver, the waitress at the cafe, the work client—these are all tertiary characters in your story.

Love interest

No matter what kind of story you’re telling, odds are there’s a love story mixed in (unless it's a picture book). As writers, we can’t help ourselves. The love interest is the object of the protagonist’s heart. The best love interests are well-rounded, compelling characters on their own.

Famous love interests

The heart wants what the heart wants. And this is who some famous protagonists want!

• Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Daisy Buchanan The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Edward Cullen Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Foil

The foil in a novel typically functions opposite the protagonist. Their personalities often clash, insinuating a relationship that’s antagonistic. While the foil certainly operates like a villain, they’re usually not the primary villain. The foil’s goal is often to expose something about the protagonist. As a result, the foil character primarily heightens the natural abilities or personalities of the protagonist.

Famous Foils

When you think about your favorite heroes, who stands against them. Here are some prime example of foils you’re sure to know.

• Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
• Lydia Bennett from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Five common character qualities in fiction

Knowing where a character stands in the hierarchy of a story is important, but it’s not the only thing a writer needs to know. Creating a strong cast of characters relies on creating variety. In every story, some characters are designed to be three-dimensional, while other, smaller characters may be one-dimensional. However, each character is equally important. Characters can typically be categorized in 5 tiers—dynamic, static, round, stock, and symbolic.

Dynamic character

A dynamic character is one who noticeably changes throughout the story. A novel’s protagonist should always be a dynamic character, evolving over the course of the narrative. The character’s change should be subtle, but noticeable to the reader. One example of this change is Ebeneezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Static character

A static character is one who doesn’t change over the course of a story. Commonly referred to as flat, these characters don’t do much in the way of driving a narrative forward. The exception here is the antagonist or villain of a story. These characters are intimately involved with the events of the story, but they do not evolve. They are typically bad news from the beginning to the end. One example of static character is Captain Hook from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.

Round character

A round character almost immediately exhibits deeply layered traits, rather than changing throughout the course of the narrative. Round characters are quite similar to dynamic characters with one slight difference. Dynamic characters usually exhibit a clear change—they evolve or change for the better. Round characters, on the other hand, are multi-layered, showing their strong personalities from the start. A perfect example of this is Severus Snape from Harry Potter.

Stock character

Stock characters are those who exhibit a fixed list of personality or behavioral traits, commonly referred to as trope or archetype characters. Stock characters have a clearly defined role and set personality traits and behaviors—the hero, the outlaw, the lover. See below for more details on the 12 character archetypes in fiction. One example of a stock character is Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger.

Symbolic character

A symbolic character represents an underlying theme or concept in the story. The role of the symbolic character is to steer the reader’s mind toward a broader concept. One of the best examples of such a character is Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.

12 character archetypes in fiction

In fiction, an archetype is used to describe a character with a fixed set of personality traits, behaviors, and motives—for example, the hero, the chosen one, or the outlaw. These characters are easily identifiable by the reader. The behavior of archetype characters tends to follow a set pattern based on their strengths, weaknesses, ambitions, greed, or, even, love. Archetypes are often referred to as stock characters, although that’s not always the case. When written well, archetype protagonists do not adhere to a simple list of cliche traits, and instead evolve throughout the course of the narrative. Stock characters, on the other hand, tend to be predictable, making it easy for readers to anticipate their thoughts, reactions, and motives. Psychologist Carl Jung and literary theorist Joseph Campbell are credited with labeling these characters into 12 essential archetypes. Let’s take a look:

The Lover

The Lover’s actions are guided by their heart. These characters are hopelessly devoted to their true love and will risk life, itself, for their relationship.

Examples: Romeo from Romeo and Juliet and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice

The Hero

Armed with courage and strength, the Hero will always win out and save the day. Whether it’s defeating the bad guy, saving the world, or rescuing the damsel in distress, the Hero is calm and collected in the presence of almost certain danger.

Examples: Hercules, The Prince from The Little Prince, Jo March from Little Women

The Outlaw

Outlaws are rebels. Tired of living as outsiders in an unjust society, they do something about it. Outlaw protagonists don’t play by the rules, and sometimes might even be a bit criminal, but it’s all for the sake of the greater good, in hopes of changing the world around them.

Example: Robin Hood

The Explorer

Explorers are curious and driven, often looking for adventure and excitement in far-off places or other worlds.

Examples: Huckleberry Finn from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and Odysseus from The Odyssey by Homer

The Magician

Often equipped with great powers, Magicians are forces of nature, using their magic to persuade the world around them. The magician character doesn’t always possess magic. Sometimes magicians exhibit great knowledge.

Examples: Merlin, Gandalf, and Sherlock Holmes.

The Innocent

Often depicted as children, these characters see the world as morally good and are often powerless to defend themselves from the evildoers in the world.

Examples: Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

The Creator

Usually artists or creative geniuses, Creators are eager to leave their mark on the world and be remembered for what they created.

Examples: Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl and Zeus from Greek mythology

The Sage

Full of wisdom and shaped by world experience, Sages act as mentors and confidants to the younger protagonist. They don't always have to be all-knowing, but they always offer sound advice.

Examples: Dumbledore from Harry Potter and Tiresias from Oedipus Rex

The Caregiver

Caregivers are typically selfless and protective of the protagonist. They watch out for the protagonist, both from a physical and an emotional perspective.

Examples: Beth March in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Mrs. Weasley in Harry Potter, and Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

The Ruler

Shaped by power, prestige, and wealth, The Ruler exudes a superior mindset. The Ruler doesn’t always have to wear a crown, but many times these characters sit at the helm of a very large kingdom

Examples: Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada, King Arthur, Julius Caesar

The Everyman

The Everyman is relatable to the reader, exhibiting realistic qualities and behaviors people would expect to see in their daily lives. These characters don't have special powers and often are faced with situations that challenge them in the face of adversity.

Examples: Bilbo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings, Dr. Watson from Sherlock Holmes, and Arthur Dent from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

The Jester

Always the comic relief, the Jester is meant to provide light heartedness, especially during serious moments. And while they’re usually always just the funny guy, they can also impart wisdom on the protagonist.

Examples: Bottom from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare