Creating a Complete Person: The Character Glossary
I don't know about you, but when I'm brainstorming a new character for TV or a movie script, I have a lot of trouble fully building them out.
That's why I wanted to create a glossary of all the terms related to characters and what we should know about them.
This should aid with all character arcs and character development, too.
Hopefully, this is a tool that all writers can use as they build the next waves of their stories.
Let's dive in.
* * *
### 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.
## Summing It All Up
This glossary should be s jumping off point for you to make sure you gave all your ducks in a row when it comes to character creation and writing your next screenplay.
Let me know what you think in the comments.