ENGLISH
REFERENCE

protagonists

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //pɹoʊˈtæɡənəsts// UK //pɹəʊtˈæɡənˌɪsts// pro·tag·o·nists

n. the main characters in a story, movie, or play. They are usually the people you follow most closely and want to succeed.

n. the leading characters or major participants in a literary work, drama, or real-world event. Often used to identify the primary drivers of a plot or negotiation.


SIMPLE

The two protagonists meet for the first time in chapter three.

CONTEXTUAL

In many classic tragedies, the protagonists possess a fatal flaw that eventually leads to their downfall.

COMPLEX

The novel is unusual because it features two protagonists whose conflicting goals drive the narrative toward an inevitable and violent confrontation in the final act.

Synonyms
Usage

Plural form of 'protagonist'. While originally referring to a single lead actor in Greek drama, modern usage widely accepts multiple protagonists within a single work.

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