- Definition
The protagonist is the main character in a story, the one the story is mostly about.
In a play about the Three Little Pigs, the pig who builds the brick house is the protagonist.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: The protagonist is like the main hero in a superhero movie — the one the whole story is about.
Ask your child: Who is this story mostly about?
Common mix-up: Kids might think the protagonist is always the 'good guy.' The protagonist is just the main character the story focuses on, no matter their actions.
Examples
- In a class play about Goldilocks, Goldilocks is the protagonist.
- If you act out a story about your favorite superhero, that hero is the protagonist.
protagonist is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
