English Literature GCSE
Protagonist
What Protagonist means in English Literature GCSE, as defined for OCR, Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Protagonist
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
The leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text.
The main character in a story. In this play, the protagonist is Jo.
Topics that use Protagonist
- A Taste of Honey (OCR GCSE)
- Critical Reading (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
- Antagonist
- Brechtian Devices
- Context
- Cyclical Structure
- Dramatic Irony
- Foreshadowing
- Juxtaposition
- Kitchen Sink Drama
Using Protagonist in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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