Question

who is the antagonist in a story?
a. the character whose personality and attitude clash with those of the main character
b. the character who causes an unexpected decrease of tension that ends the plot without resolving the central conflict
c. the character who tries to achieve a particular purpose and who is usually the main character
d. the character who tries to stop the protagonist from achieving his or her purpose

Explanation:

An antagonist is defined as the character that opposes the story's protagonist, working to prevent them from reaching their goals. Option A describes a character with conflicting traits but not the core opposition; Option B refers to a deus ex machina-like character, not an antagonist; Option C defines the protagonist, not the antagonist. Only Option D matches the standard literary definition of an antagonist.

Answer:

D. The character who tries to stop the protagonist from achieving his or her purpose