How to Identify a Hero

Heroes are often of obscure or mysterious origin  They are either the son of a god or have royal parents (king)  Their childhoods may be unusual  Left to die, but then rescued and brought up in poverty or isolation  Often they don’t discover their real parentage until they are older  They are either the son of a god or have royal parents (king)  Their childhoods may be unusual  Left to die, but then rescued and brought up in poverty or isolation  Often they don’t discover their real parentage until they are older

Heroes are neither fools nor invincible  While partly divine, they are definitely human in nature  They are subject to fear and danger  They are not immortal, they suffer harm  Usually heroes are invulnerable except for one spot on their bodies  Sometimes can only be defeated by one particular weapon  While partly divine, they are definitely human in nature  They are subject to fear and danger  They are not immortal, they suffer harm  Usually heroes are invulnerable except for one spot on their bodies  Sometimes can only be defeated by one particular weapon

Heroes are called upon to make a journey or to follow a goal or quest  Choose difficult and dangerous adventures  Sometimes they do not choose, but are chosen for the adventure  Labor for the good of others  Rid a land of hideous monsters  Bring back a lost or stolen object  Their quest may not be for something noble, but they follow through and refuse to surrender  Choose difficult and dangerous adventures  Sometimes they do not choose, but are chosen for the adventure  Labor for the good of others  Rid a land of hideous monsters  Bring back a lost or stolen object  Their quest may not be for something noble, but they follow through and refuse to surrender

The hero’s way is not always direct  The way or path of life is never clear, thus heroes frequently become lost or must take detours or solve riddles

The hero’s way is beset with dangers, loneliness, and temptation  Cruel kings, horrible monster, dangerous seas  All these are physical dangers faced by heroes  But more dangerous may be the feeling of isolation or alienation as they travel far from home  Cruel kings, horrible monster, dangerous seas  All these are physical dangers faced by heroes  But more dangerous may be the feeling of isolation or alienation as they travel far from home

The hero’s way is beset with dangers, loneliness, and temptation  They are often tempted to give up or give in  Temptations appeal to their senses rather than their intellect  They are encouraged to rest, to eat a certain food, or drink a certain wine  Woman often appear as the most dangerous temptation of all.  They are often tempted to give up or give in  Temptations appeal to their senses rather than their intellect  They are encouraged to rest, to eat a certain food, or drink a certain wine  Woman often appear as the most dangerous temptation of all.

Many quest tales supply friends, servant, or disciples as company for heroes  When given companionship, they are often still alone  The friends or servant do not understand the quest or are not motivated by the sense of the mission but by friendship  When given companionship, they are often still alone  The friends or servant do not understand the quest or are not motivated by the sense of the mission but by friendship

Heroes have guides  Receive help (Supernatural aid)  Fairy godmothers, beautiful/ugly witches, or sorceresses  May be given a magic potion or weapon, or information  Often guides are limited by powers stronger than their own and can only help to a certain point  Receive help (Supernatural aid)  Fairy godmothers, beautiful/ugly witches, or sorceresses  May be given a magic potion or weapon, or information  Often guides are limited by powers stronger than their own and can only help to a certain point

Heroes descend into darkness and are not the same after emerging  The “descent” is usually the final step  Physical or emotional  Into some hell-like place of suffering or death  The fear, loneliness, or despair experienced is a type of rebirth  Leads to enlightenment or maturity, changing hero in some way  The “descent” is usually the final step  Physical or emotional  Into some hell-like place of suffering or death  The fear, loneliness, or despair experienced is a type of rebirth  Leads to enlightenment or maturity, changing hero in some way

What the hero seeks is usually no more than a symbol for what he finds  While the goal is usually something tangible, the success or achievement of that goal is somewhat more spiritual  The maturity or growth of the hero becomes more important than the actual object of the quest  While the goal is usually something tangible, the success or achievement of that goal is somewhat more spiritual  The maturity or growth of the hero becomes more important than the actual object of the quest

With few exceptions, mythological heroes are male  While women may be equally courageous and noble, they are not often seen in the role of the hero  Women provide protection, guidance, and knowledge for the hero  They give him the secrets of life  While women may be equally courageous and noble, they are not often seen in the role of the hero  Women provide protection, guidance, and knowledge for the hero  They give him the secrets of life