7 Characteristics of Epic Heroes – Flashcards

-most epic heroes will have an above average station in life -they will be kings, princes, or nobles of some sort -commoners usually do not become epic heroes

-has the potential of great deeds -magnitude of these actions are well above and beyond what the commoner does -while most epic heroes are good, no all are

-usually established himself in combat during a war -sometime, we see the hero at war -hero has spent much time in battle

-you cannot be an epic hero if you stay in your village your whole life -the more countries or areas traveled to, the better -the farther away from your own country, the better -distance makes the hero's actions greater because they aren't selfish; they are for another country or people

-before a hero can be celebrated by cuontries around the world, he must first be recognized in his home country as a great and heroic person

-he is never a braggart or even willing to take applause -he commits to his deeds because he knows they need doing, and the fame/rewards that he recieves are only a matter of course, not the reason for completing his quests

-most epic heroes either recieve aid from a god or goddess or battle some superhuman enemy -this is what makes a hero's action epic: they fight something mere mortals cannot battle -for each hero, the enemy is unique (you cannot see two heroes battling the same foe)

1.) Birth/orgin is mysterious/miraculous 2.) Rises to power quickly and with ease 3.) Rules with perfection in kingdom 4.) A problem or failure 5.) Fall from grace