Deuteragonist Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: RL.9-10.3

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When translated from Greek, it means "second actor". Which is description for this because a deuteragonist is the second most important actor, just behind the main character. This character is often either the sidekick or love interest of the main character. They can also be a character that does not drive the plot or conflict level, at all. Because this individual just needs to be classified as the second most important persona in the work, it is often open to interpretation as to who this exact character is. In some stories, depending on your perspective of the work, two people may feel that two completely different characters represent the deuteragonist. These worksheets will help students learn the nature of a deuteragonist and explore the traits and qualities that they often portray in literature.

Deuteragonist Worksheets To Print:

Did You Read... - Quickly evaluate some well known works to identify this character within them. A good idea to do this as a class because some kids may not have read some of the works. It makes for a great discussion.

Who Is It? - Identify whether each description applies to the protagonist (P), the antagonist (A), or the deuteragonist (D).

Sentence Clean Up - How would you bets complete all of these sentences?

Antagonist - Where do these concept overlap and spread apart?

Introduction - This is a good worksheet to use when you are just starting with the concept.

Solid Organizer - What are some words that are related to this concept?

Explain It - What is the function of this particular character in a work of fiction?

Navigating - It can sometimes be difficult to determine which single character is of secondary importance in a story, so the identification of the deuteragonist can be somewhat subjective.

Function - The interactions between the two main characters contribute to character development, development of the theme, and/or advance the plot.

My Favs - Think about some books or movies that you have enjoyed. Write down the title of the story and identify the deuteragonist in each one.

Contributions - We look at the reason for being second best.

True or False - There are some real general thought questions here.

Composition - Will they work with, against, or be neutral in relation to your protagonist?

The Foil - In literature, a foil is a character that can be contrasted to the protagonist. A foil can be very similar to the protagonist or very different.

Brief Concept - This is a sheet that you can use to lead a discussion about how to determine who this individual is in a written work.

What is a Deuteragonist in Drama?


If you've watched movies, theater, or read books, you're surely familiar with the protagonist, the central figure in any novel and around whom everything revolves. However, this may be the first time you've heard this term used. Well, simply put, the deuteragonist is a minor figure who comes in second to the protagonist in prominence.


In Ancient Greek literature, this is the second most significant after the protagonist. It may be for or against the protagonist, depending on the scenario. The deuteragonist might be someone who is on the protagonist's side, such as a love interest or a sidekick. Alternatively, they might be a villain, like a protagonist's primary antagonist. A neutral figure might serve this role as well. However, the fact that they are the second most significant character is all that matters.


If the character is sympathetic to the protagonist, he or she might be his lover or partner. The most important aspect of a deuteragonist is that it is significant enough in history to exist independently of the protagonist.


Deuteragonists in History


The second most significant and present character in a story—often referred to as a secondary main character—is defined as a deuteragonist (from the Greek word deuteragnists, meaning "second actor"). The importance of this role is immediately following that of the protagonist.


The Greeks labeled their characters protagonist, deuteragonist, and tritagonist in their works, and they were sometimes played by various players, and occasionally the same actors played multiple parts.


They had a specific fixed stance upon approaching the scene, not to be confused and plainly recognizable. The protagonist, for example, must always come through the stage's centre door, whereas the deuteragonist must always be on the protagonist's right side.


The actor who symbolizes the third portion of the drama's development shifts to the left-wing. The poets did not assign these types of roles to the players in ancient Greek works.


The Importance of a Deuteragonist


The relationships and differences between characters are at the heart of most stories - individuals are complicated, and their interactions are much more so. This is, at their core, what tales are about. One relationship, in particular, is crucial in many stories: the one between the protagonist and the deuteragonist.


The author attracts our attention to the interactions between those two characters by generating two primary "focal points" for the novel, whether they are intense love scenes, epic wars, or merely talks. Of fact, many stories don't have this role served at all - they feature a single protagonist and a slew of supporting characters with no clear second-place.


The deuteragonist does not require the same level of strong and comprehensive emotional expression as the protagonist, nor does the external force that causes the protagonist's pains or passion. That catalyst may be the protagonist, who makes up a third of the work and is the originator of the protagonist's harm, with a keen interest in their reactions. The persona, on the other hand, is a considerably less passionate figure who, while lacking in strong passions, lacks the protagonist's vehemence and emotional depth.