Their journey usually begins with self-doubt and a desire to return to normal life, so they might even try to run away from the situation. Typically, the unwilling hero is pushed or manipulated into an adventure that requires their rise to heroism. This kind of hero in literature has no interest in saving the day and thus may appear selfish or be seen as an antihero. And if the unwilling hero does have supernatural powers, they’re either afraid to use them or don’t know how. The unwilling hero is often someone without any exemplary qualities. The unwilling heroĮxamples: Frodo Baggins, Katniss Everdeen, Spiderman Their purpose is to inspire and remind us that sometimes all we need is a little positive madness. You may not find the willing hero to be relatable most of the time, but that’s ok because they’re not supposed to be. When everyone else is running away, it’s the willing hero who will stay or, better yet, run toward danger. Heck, they’re probably bored when nothing life-threatening is happening. The willing hero is usually self-motivated and “feeds” on adrenaline. The willing heroes are committed to the adventure and aren’t afraid to take a risk or self-sacrifice if it’s for the greater good they’re always bravely going ahead and usually finish their hero’s journey (also called monomyth) with an “all or nothing” heroic act.Īlthough they may appear narcissistic and self-centered at times, they more often than not have a reason to behave that way. Lisbeth Salander, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson 6 types of heroes in literature 1.

So, let’s take a closer look at the world of heroes in literature. The literary device of the Hero archetype represents the process of overcoming obstacles and achieving a particular goal – a courageous triumph over adversity. Human or superhuman, each literary hero fits into one literary „bucket“ – a hero archetype. Much like in real life, a hero in literature can also be someone without apparent heroic qualities, an ordinary guy or a girl trying their best in extraordinary circumstances. Heroic deeds aren’t limited to noble knights, dragon-slayers, soldiers, warriors, prodigies, or fantastical beings. Heroes and heroines in literature aren’t always the paragons of virtue in fact, they can be the exact opposite – flawed and lost souls who fail many times along their hero journey. But not all heroes in literature are created equal, which is why there shouldn’t be a single, idealized definition of a hero. Someone like King Arthur immediately comes to mind – a true literary hero, a larger-than-life character, a defender, and a protector. Click through to see our list of ten of the most powerful female characters in literature, and then be sure to pipe up with your own suggestions - we’ve chosen the ten who resonate most deeply with us here, but since there are many more than ten strong ladies in literature (thank goodness), we want to know which ones blow you away on a daily basis.It’s in our very human nature to root for someone in every story, which is why every good book needs a hero.Īnd if you look up the definition of a “hero,” you’re likely to find something like “a person admired for his or her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” For all the hullabaloo about the dearth of strong female characters in modern culture, thankfully there are some wonderfully powerful, kick-ass maidens that have inspired us with their strength, self-discovery, and incredible brilliance over the years. Since March is Women’s History Month, we’ve been thinking a lot about the women who have had positive and lasting impacts on our lives - and perhaps not surprisingly for a bunch of literary geeks like us, we’ve realized that many of them are fictional.

Brave characters in literature