The word hero comes from the Greek ἥρως ( hērōs), "hero" (literally "protector" or "defender"), particularly one such as Heracles with divine ancestry or later given divine honors. 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.Įtymology Coronation of the Hero of Virtue by Peter Paul Rubens, c. Merriam Webster dictionary defines a hero as "a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities". The definition of a hero has changed throughout time. 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. Other terms associated with the concept of hero may include good guy or white hat. 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 original hero type of classical epics did such things for the sake of glory and honor. FantasyĪ hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Giuseppe Garibaldi is considered an Italian national hero for his role in the Italian unification, and is known as the " Hero of the Two Worlds" because of his military enterprises in South America and Europe. Joan of Arc is considered a medieval Christian heroine of France for her role in the Hundred Years' War, and was canonized as a Roman Catholic saint William Tell, a popular folk hero of Switzerland. ( May 2020) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Īchilles during the Trojan War, as depicted in an ancient Greek polychromatic pottery painting (dating to c. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject.
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