Is it right??....in the movie

english001 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-Jul-2007, 02:59

Is it right to use the word "PROTAGONIST" as an antonym of "Antagonist" when refering to the "MOVIE" we watched last time??

Please give me a referrence that the WORD "PROTAGONIST" can be used when REFERRING IT TO the MOVIE.

tHANX AND more poweeeeer!!!

**Tdol** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-Jul-2007, 04:50

The protagonist is the most important character- the hero or heroine.

You'll see that both of these dictionaries use the terms in relation to movies:
antagonist definition - Dictionary - MSN Encarta
AskOxford: protagonist
They can be used for any work of fiction: film, novel, drama, etc

cold · #3 (**permalink**) 10-Jul-2007, 09:51

I think we can address them leading actor/man or leading actress/lady.

**Tdol** · #4 (**permalink**) 11-Jul-2007, 07:30

Or just 'lead'.

**BobK** · #5 (**permalink**) 11-Jul-2007, 07:52

Going back a few thousand years, the protagonist was the only actor on the stage. A very small number of people (mostly students of Greek tragedy) still insist on this usage, but for film the links Tdol gave you are fine.

A bit of etymological background: the root of the prefix is Greek protos (first), not Latin pro (on behalf of), so don't make the mistake of using 'protagonist' to mean 'proponent'.

b


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