Creating a Complete Person: The Character Glossary

The Character Glossary

Core Identity Terms

• Protagonist: The central character or "hero" of the story. They are the primary driver of the plot and usually undergo the most significant internal change.
• Antagonist: The character (or force) that stands in direct opposition to the protagonist’s goals. They create the primary conflict.
• Antagonist vs. Villain: While often the same, an antagonist is simply an obstacle, whereas a villain is defined by malicious intent.
• Antihero: A protagonist who lacks traditional heroic qualities (like idealism or morality) but still commands the audience's interest (e.g., Tony Soprano or Fleabag).
• Foil: A character whose traits contrast sharply with another character (usually the protagonist) to highlight specific qualities of that person.

Psychological Architecture

• The Want (External Goal): What the character thinks they need. It is tangible and drives the physical plot (e.g., winning a race, finding a lost treasure).
• The Need (Internal Goal): The emotional or spiritual deficiency the character must fix to find fulfillment. Often, the character is unaware of this at the start.
• The Ghost (The Wound): A past trauma or significant event that haunts the character and shapes their current flaws or fears.
• The Lie: A false belief the character tells themselves about their life or the world (e.g., "I don't need anyone's help") that prevents them from achieving their Need.

Development & Arc

• Character Arc: The journey of transformation.
  • Positive Arc: The character overcomes their Lie and becomes a better person.
  • Negative Arc: The character descends into a worse state or embraces their Lie.
  • Flat Arc: The character doesn't change but instead changes the world around them (common in action heroes like James Bond or Sherlock Holmes).
• Archetype: A universal character pattern or "type" that audiences recognize instinctively (e.g., The Mentor, The Shapeshifter, The Herald).
• Character Agency: The capacity of a character to act independently and make choices that affect the plot. A character with no agency is often seen as "passive."

Dimensions & Complexity

• Round Character: A nuanced, complex character with a detailed backstory and conflicting emotions.
• Flat Character: A character with little depth or complexity, often serving a singular functional purpose in the script.
• Static vs. Dynamic: A static character remains the same from beginning to end; a dynamic character undergoes a fundamental internal shift.
• Internal Conflict: A struggle occurring within the character’s mind (Duty vs. Desire).
• External Conflict: Obstacles coming from the outside world (Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Society).

Crafting the Performance

• Backstory: The history of the character before the story begins. Not all of it needs to be on screen, but the writer/actor should know it.
• Motive/Motivation: The "why" behind a character's actions. Without clear motivation, a character's choices feel unearned.
• Subtext: What a character is really saying or feeling beneath the literal lines of dialogue.
• Characteristic Moment: An introductory scene that perfectly encapsulates who a character is before the plot kicks in.

Pro-Tip: When writing, remember that Conflict is Character. We only truly see who someone is when they are forced to make a difficult choice under pressure.

The Mechanical Roles

• Deuteragonist: The second most important character, right after the protagonist (e.g., Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes). They often have their own arc that mirrors or supports the lead.
• Tertiary Characters: Characters who appear briefly or provide a specific function (the barista, the bank teller). They add "texture" to the world but don't drive the plot.
• Stock Character: A recognizable stereotype (e.g., the "jock," the "nerd," the "mad scientist"). These can be useful for minor roles, but writers usually try to subvert them for major ones.
• The Contagonist: A term coined by Dramatica theory for a character who hinders the protagonist but isn't necessarily the main villain. They often offer bad advice or create distractions.

Character Presentation & Tools

• Save the Cat Moment: An early scene where the protagonist does something kind or likable to win over the audience (coined by Blake Snyder).
• The "I Want" Song/Moment: Borrowed from musical theater but used in all film; a scene where the character explicitly or implicitly states their primary desire to the audience.
• Pet the Dog: Similar to "Save the Cat," this is a specific action used to humanize a villain or a cynical anti-hero to make them more three-dimensional.
• Inciting Incident: While a plot term, for the character, this is the Call to Adventure. It is the moment their status quo is disrupted, forcing them to react.

Character Relationships

• Dynamic Duo: Two characters whose chemistry and contrasting skills drive the story (e.g., Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid).
• The Love Interest: A character whose primary function is to provide romantic conflict or support for the protagonist.
• The Mentor: A character who provides the protagonist with the skills, tools, or wisdom needed to navigate the journey (e.g., Obi-Wan Kenobi).
• The Mirror: A character who reflects a specific trait of the protagonist back at them, usually to show them what they could become if they don't change.

Advanced Narrative Tropes

• Character Agency: The degree to which a character's own choices—rather than luck or "destiny"—drive the plot forward. Modern screenwriting prioritizes high agency.
• Mary Sue / Marty Stu: A derogatory term for a character who is "too perfect," lacks flaws, and masters skills without effort, making them difficult for audiences to relate to.
• The "MacGuffin" Character: A character who exists solely as a plot device that everyone is looking for (e.g., Private Ryan in Saving Private Ryan).
• The Reluctant Hero: A protagonist who has no interest in the journey but is forced into it by circumstances, often providing a "grounded" perspective for the audience.