Final answer:
Every story has a protagonist who is central to its narrative, but a story might not have an antagonist. The antagonist is any opposing force that creates conflict but isn't strictly necessary for every story. So, the correct answer is b.) antagonist; protagonist.
Step-by-step explanation:
All stories have a protagonist, but some have no antagonist. The protagonist is the central character or leading figure in a story, and is often, but not necessarily, the hero. The character of the protagonist could vary from a valiant figure to an antihero, which is a protagonist who lacks traditional heroic qualities but still has the sympathy of the audience. Sure, protagonists like John Milton's Satan in Paradise Lost might be unconventional, but they hold the central position in their stories.
On the other hand, an antagonist is a character, group, or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict within the story. Not all antagonists are characters; they could be abstract concepts, social structures, natural disasters, inner demons, or any kind of challenging force that the protagonist must confront and hopefully overcome. For example, in some stories, the antagonist might be a fear that the protagonist must conquer.
Given this understanding, we can infer that every story must feature a protagonist, as they are the focal point of the story and the narrative unfolds around them. However, it is possible for a story to exist without an antagonist. So, to address the initial student question, the correct answer is: b.) antagonist; protagonist.