Final answer:
In literature, the hero typically represents goodness and moral values, while the villain symbolizes evil and acts as the antagonist. An antihero is a central character who lacks traditional heroic qualities. Classic examples of heroes include Superman, while characters like Deadpool are recognized as antiheroes.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the hero is a figure of goodness, the villain often stands as a symbol of evil. The hero in literature is typically the protagonist of a story and represents the moral values of the society depicted within it, often portraying characteristics that are widely admired and considered virtuous, such as bravery and justice. Classic examples of a hero include characters like Superman who embody these ideal traits. Sometimes, however, the protagonist can be an antihero, which is a character that does not possess traditional heroic qualities, yet still garners sympathy and support from the audience. An antihero might exhibit behaviors that are not seen as virtuous or admirable but still play the central role in the story. Characters such as Deadpool from popular culture serve as examples of antiheroes, as they may not act with traditional heroism, but audiences are nonetheless drawn to their unorthodox methods.
In contrast, the antagonist, often portrayed as the villain, is the embodiment of obstacles and conflicts in the narrative. Villains are typically characters that embody negative traits or evil intentions, providing a counterforce to the hero's positive attributes. In many stories, the presence of an antagonist helps to highlight and enhance the heroic qualities of the protagonist by giving them something to fight against.