Heptadecagon

I'm taking a brand new writing class this month. One of the topics we covered on Monday night was the difference between a protagonist and an antagonist. Come on, you say. Don't you already know the difference? Shouldn't you know the difference, if you claim to be a writer? Well, yes and no. Most of us know what those terms mean. Protagonist = the main character of the story, the one involved in the conflict. Antagonist = the character who opposes the protagonist. But here's the thing. Knowing the definitions of the terms is different from being able to identify who the protagonist and antagonist are, which is also different from being able to clearly write an unforgettable protagonist and antagonist. "A good antagonist," the teacher said, "will try to block the actions of the protagonist. So in The Wizard of Oz , the Wicked Witch tried to block Dorothy from getting home with many actions, including the flying monkeys." I nodded my head as I...