antagonist vs hero

antagonist

noun
  • An opponent or enemy. 

  • A muscle that acts in opposition to another. 

  • A chemical that binds to a receptor but does not produce a physiological response, blocking the action of agonist chemicals. 

  • The main character or force opposing the protagonist in a literary work or drama. 

  • One who antagonizes or stirs. 

hero

noun
  • The current player, especially an hypothetical player for example and didactic purposes. Compare: villain (“any opponent player”). Not to be confused with hero call (“a weak call against a supposed bluff”). 

  • The eye-catching top portion of a web page, sometimes including a hero image; the portion above the fold. 

  • Somebody who possesses great bravery and carries out extraordinary or noble deeds. 

  • The product chosen from several candidates to be photographed, as in food advertising, or with props used in a movie. 

  • A role model. 

  • The protagonist in a work of fiction. 

  • A large sandwich made from meats and cheeses; a hero sandwich. 

How often have the words antagonist and hero occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )