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-   -   How do Fics do without an antagonist? (https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=167656)

The Ebon Blade January 31st, 2009 8:31 PM

How do Fics do without an antagonist?
 
I've got an idea for a fic but it doesn't actually have an antagonist per say. It focuses on one character, a depressed and discouraged character, and displays his development and challenges he faces in the special task he has before him. However, even fics without evil organizations usually have some sort of rival the recurs through out the fic, but not with this idea. Comments?

Astinus January 31st, 2009 8:44 PM

Your fic does have an antagonist, which you mentioned yourself:

Quote:

challenges he faces in the special task he has before him
He has a challenge that he has to face off against in order to accomplish something. There's the antagonist for your fic.

Just because the antagonist isn't an actual being, like another human, doesn't mean that there isn't any antagonist at all. An antagonist can be anything that the protagonist has to face off against, or overcome, in order to accomplish their goal.

For example:
The protagonist wants a date with a newcomer to town. The protagonist is afraid to ask this newcomer to a movie or dance. The newcomer is willing, but the protagonist is not aware and, therefore, does not ask. The only thing which stops the protagonist from succeeding is her/his own fear of rejection.

Ta-da. The antagonist is not a rival in love. It's the protagonist's fear, which they have to overcome in order to accomplish their goal, which would be to ask out the newcomer.

So, does that kinda make sense?

Spinor January 31st, 2009 9:02 PM

Well, let me elaborate a bit.

A Fan-fiction does not really need an antagonist, any good fiction will always have one of the following conflicts:

Man vs Man

Man vs Self

Man vs Society

Man vs Nature

Man vs Supernatural



An antagonist is not a must for a story.

Swift! January 31st, 2009 9:03 PM

Astinus is right.

An antagonist doesn't have to be an opposing human, but more a problem that must be overcome.
It can be anything; physical, emotional or even spiritual.
As long as it's something that the protagonist has to defeat, overcome, defend or anthing else you can think of.
So, your fanfic does indeed have an antagonist. =)

Astinus February 1st, 2009 4:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ─AdvancedK9─ (Post 4323975)
Well, let me elaborate a bit.

A Fan-fiction does not really need an antagonist, any good fiction will always have one of the following conflicts:

Man vs Man

Man vs Self

Man vs Society

Man vs Nature

Man vs Supernatural



An antagonist is not a must for a story.

There's still an antagonist in those conflicts somewhere. o_O "Antagonism" is defined as "active opposition or hostility". So, for example, in a "man versus nature" story where a character has to survive in the wild, the nature is the opposing force. In other words, the antagonist.

Hey, let me use an example closer to me. I have a story where a boy could either do the right thing for himself or follow the rules that the society he's in dictates he should follow. Since he's conflicted between the two, the rules of society is his antagonist.

So your post is kinda sending mixed signals. You first say a good story must have conflict, but in order to have conflict, you need to "conflicting" forces. In other words, a protagonist and an antagonist. But then you say "an antagonist is not a must for a story". But...then where's the conflict gonna come from if not from an antagonist?

The Ebon Blade February 1st, 2009 5:09 AM

I never thought of it that way. My fic already does have an antagonist... Alright thanks guys I think I understand what your saying Astinus. So an antagonist doesn't have to be a person, it can really be anything that gets in the protagonist's way. Thanks for the comments guys!

Spinor February 1st, 2009 7:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astinus (Post 4324327)
There's still an antagonist in those conflicts somewhere. o_O "Antagonism" is defined as "active opposition or hostility". So, for example, in a "man versus nature" story where a character has to survive in the wild, the nature is the opposing force. In other words, the antagonist.

Hey, let me use an example closer to me. I have a story where a boy could either do the right thing for himself or follow the rules that the society he's in dictates he should follow. Since he's conflicted between the two, the rules of society is his antagonist.

So your post is kinda sending mixed signals. You first say a good story must have conflict, but in order to have conflict, you need to "conflicting" forces. In other words, a protagonist and an antagonist. But then you say "an antagonist is not a must for a story". But...then where's the conflict gonna come from if not from an antagonist?

Urk, sorry, I meant to say a physical antagonist, since that was what Ebon was wondering about -.-'.

Anyways, you're welcome. Good luck with your fan fic.


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