Hero
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | A '''Hero''' ([[Ancient Greek|Greek]] in [[Greek mythology]] and [[folklore]], was originally a [[demi-god]], the [[offpsring of a mortal and a deity]]. Later, hero (male) and '''[[heroine]]''' (female) came to refer to characters that, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display [[courage]] and the will for [[self-sacrifice]], that is, '''heroism''', for some greater [[Goodness and value theory|good]], originally of [[warrior|martial]] courage or excellence but extended to more general [[moral]] excellence. | ||
| - | Stories of heroism may serve as [[moral example]]s, impressing a culture's ethical code, especially for the young. In classical antiquity, '''hero cults''', veneration of deified heroes such as [[Heracles]], [[Perseus]], or [[Achilles]], played an important role in [[Ancient Greek religion]]. Later emperors employed hero worship for their own [[apotheosis]], that is, [[cult of personality]]. | + | A '''hero''' ('''heroine''' in its feminine form) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, [[courage]], or [[Physical strength|strength]]. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''hero'' is often used to refer to any gender, though ''heroine'' only refers to women. The original hero type of classical epics did such things for the sake of glory and honor. [[post-classical history|Post-classical]] and [[modern history|modern]] heroes, on the other hand, perform great deeds or selfless acts for the common good instead of the classical goal of wealth, pride, and fame. The antonym of ''hero'' is ''[[villain]]''. Other terms associated with the concept of ''hero'' may include ''good guy'' or ''[[wikt:white hat|white hat]]''. |
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| + | In [[Classics|classical literature]], the hero is the main or revered character in [[Epic poetry|heroic epic poetry]] celebrated through ancient [[legend]]s of a people, often striving for military conquest and living by a continually flawed personal honor code. The definition of a hero has changed throughout time. [[Webster's Dictionary|Merriam Webster]] dictionary defines a hero as "a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities". Examples of heroes range from mythological figures, such as [[Gilgamesh]], [[Achilles]] and [[Iphigenia]], to historical and modern figures, such as [[Joan of Arc]], [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]], [[Sophie Scholl]], [[Alvin York]], [[Audie Murphy]], and [[Chuck Yeager]], and fictional "[[superhero]]es", including [[Superman]], [[Spider-Man]], [[Batman]], and [[Captain America]]. | ||
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| ==Contrast== | ==Contrast== | ||
| *[[Villain]] | *[[Villain]] | ||
Revision as of 18:00, 28 August 2022
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"At the close of the sixteenth century appeared a series of fictions distinct from the jest-books and legends, although somewhat allied to Robin Hood literature in celebrating heroes of the people. Thomas Deloney, "the balleting silke weaver," as Nash called him, deserves the credit of launching this genre, which differs from such a hero tale in low-life as Croce's Vita di Bertoldo in its larger use of realism."--The Literature of Roguery (1907) by Frank Wadleigh Chandler "We cannot suppose "The Battle of the Frogs and Mice," or "The Banquet of Matron," although written in imitation of the heroic poetry of Homer, was intended to make "The Iliad" appear ridiculous."--History of English Humour (1878) by Alfred Guy Kingan L'Estrange |
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A hero (heroine in its feminine form) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like actor), hero is often used to refer to any gender, though heroine only refers to women. The original hero type of classical epics did such things for the sake of glory and honor. Post-classical and modern heroes, on the other hand, perform great deeds or selfless acts for the common good instead of the classical goal of wealth, pride, and fame. The antonym of hero is villain. Other terms associated with the concept of hero may include good guy or white hat.
In classical literature, the hero is the main or revered character in heroic epic poetry celebrated through ancient legends of a people, often striving for military conquest and living by a continually flawed personal honor code. The definition of a hero has changed throughout time. Merriam Webster dictionary defines a hero as "a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities". Examples of heroes range from mythological figures, such as Gilgamesh, Achilles and Iphigenia, to historical and modern figures, such as Joan of Arc, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Sophie Scholl, Alvin York, Audie Murphy, and Chuck Yeager, and fictional "superheroes", including Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, and Captain America.
Contrast
See also
- fatal flaw
- Action hero
- Antihero
- Byronic hero
- Culture hero
- Fantasy tropes and conventions
- Folk hero
- Germanic hero
- Heroine
- Heroic nudity
- Reluctant hero
- Romantic hero
- Superhero
- Tragic hero
- The Hero With a Thousand Faces
- Youxia
- List of genres
- Hero of Labour
- List of folk heroes
- List of culture heroes
- Mock heroic
- Coronation of the Hero of Virtue by Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1612-1614 [1]
![[1]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_Paul_Rubens_-_The_Coronation_of_the_Hero_of_Virtue.jpg){kind=link}