“1 a: a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b: an illustrious warrior c: a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d: one that shows great courage

2 a: the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work b: the central figure in an event, period, or movement

3plural usually heros : submarine 2

4: an object of extreme admiration and devotion : idol.”

An illustrious warrior.

A man admired for his achievements and noble qualities

One who shows great courage.

The principal male character in a literary or dramatic work.

A protagonist.

One type of hero is the epic hero. The epic hero has superhuman strength, courage, and intelligence. He takes long, perilous journey, generally on a quest. He performs brave deeds or legendary exploits. He suffers various misadventures, risking all for the greater good of society. He is surrounded (often aided) by supernatural occurences. He is highly ethical. He gives long speeches of a lofty tone. He is a strong leader, beloved by men. He reflects the customs and aspirations of a nation or race. Beowulf and Odysseus are examples.

Another type of hero is the romantic hero during the romantic time period in the 1800s.