Heroes And Anti-Heroes – What’s The Difference?

In this table, we list the differences between heroes and anti-heroes for writers.

We are often asked about the differences between heroes and anti-heroes on our Writers Write course. There are many, including the storytelling truth that heroes need confidants and mentors, while anti-heroes need sidekicks.

TOP TIP: Either a hero or an anti-hero can be the protagonist in a story.

Heroes And Anti-Heroes – What’s The Difference?

The Hero

According to the dictionary a hero is ‘a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities’. A fiction hero is a ‘character in a book, play, or film, who is typically identified with good qualities, and with whom the reader is expected to sympathise’.

The Anti-Hero

The anti-hero is ‘a central character in a story, film, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes’.  These missing attributes include idealism, courage, and morality. Anti-heroes can sometimes do the right thing, but it is usually because it serves their interests to do so.

Anthony Ehlers compiled this list as a guide for aspiring writers.

TOP TIPS:

1. If you want to learn how to write a romance, sign up for our online course, This Kiss.
2. If you want to learn how to write a book, sign up for our online course.
3. Use our Character Creation Kit to create great characters for your stories.

by Anthony Ehlers

1. Five Shortcuts for Creating an Inciting Moment
2. Amused – Nine New Muses to Make You Write
3. Are you a jester, a priest or a magician? – The Three Things Readers Want
4. Is Genre a Straitjacket?
5. Give me a break – the Internal Critic strikes back
6. Talk Show — How to let your characters tell their story

Read More: Explore the romance writing tag on our website for more posts: Romance Writing