Which term describes the main character the reader wants to succeed?

• A. Protagonist
• B. Antagonist
• C. Round
• D. Flat

Answer: (A)

When a reader hopes to see a character succeed, that character is the protagonist—the central figure whose goals drive the story and with whom the reader usually identifies and follows throughout the plot. The protagonist is the one around whom the action centers, and their journey, decisions, and growth shape what happens in the story.

The term captures exactly who the reader is rooting for, which is why it’s the best choice here. In contrast, the antagonist is the character or force that opposes the protagonist and creates the conflict. The ideas of round and flat describe how deeply a character is developed—round means complex with many traits, while flat means simple and one-dimensional—qualities about character depth rather than about who the reader wants to succeed.