HEROES

By Mr. Idris
 CATEGORIES

• Epic Hero • Antihero

• Classical Hero • Unwilling Hero
• Tragic Hero • Everyman Hero
• Superhero
 EPIC HERO

• Epic heroes emerged thousands of years ago in ancient texts.

• Epic heroes have superhero like powers, go on an adventure,
and reflect the values of their current culture.
 Epic heroes possess several characteristics, including:
 Noble birth– Epic heroes are usually noblemen,
sometimes kings and even gods or demigods.
 Bravery – Epic heroes are not afraid of a fight and often
volunteer for battles.
Characteristics  Superhuman abilities – These may be physical,
mental, or a combination of both.
of an Epic Hero
 Trials & Temptations – An epic hero goes through a
series of challenges and wins, demonstrating his
greatness.
 Cultural Legend – Epic heroes become legendary in
their culture, resulting in myths, songs, and legends.
Their stories get passed down to future generations.
 CLASSICAL HERO

• A classical hero fits the stereotypical features of a

hero. They’re hard-working, honest, and courageous.
 Classical heroes possess several characteristics , many
like those of Epic heroes. Here are some additional
characteristics that make them different:
 Set Apart – Classical heroes have something that
makes them set apart, usually occurring in their
Characteristics childhood.
of a Classical  Humility – Although classical heroes have plenty to
Hero boast about, they never do. In fact, they are
characteristically very humble.
 Near-perfection– One of the reasons that classical
heroes fell out of popularity is that it is difficult for
readers to relate to them. Modern readers prefer
heroes that are more flawed, and thus more relatable.
 TRAGIC HERO

• A tragic hero possesses a tragic flaw. The hero fits all of the criteria of a hero,
but his tragic flaw is a weakness that bars him from fully enjoying himself.
• A tragic hero usually dies at the end of the story (sometimes only figuratively)
 The tragic hero figure was established by
Aristotle back in ancient Greece. There are
several terms to know when studying a
tragic hero:
 Noble birth – Like epic heroes, tragic
Characteristics heroes are set apart by a noble birth or a
of a Tragic special gift
Hero  Hamartia – The hero’s tragic flaw
 Hubris – Excessive pride and arrogance
 Catharsis – The feelings of pity the
audience feels as the hero goes through
his downfall and sees his flaws
 SUPERHERO

• A superhero was gifted superpowers through an origin

story.
• They fight against evil for the good of humanity.
 Superheroes possess a range of shared qualities,
including:
 Extraordinary abilities and powers – These abilities,
sometimes natural, sometimes given through science,
assist them as they fight evil
 Courage – Superheroes fight bravely, risking their lives
Characteristics for the greater good
of a Superhero  Responsibility – Superheroes recognize that their gifts
are a privilege and use them to fight for regular people
 Strong moral code – Superheroes are able to resist
temptations and stick to the side of “good”
 History of trauma/challenges – Superheroes are
driven by their past challenges or losses, sometimes
isolating themselves from relationships
 ANTIHERO

• Antiheroes don’t fit the classic criteria of heroes, usually

because they aren’t brave, strong, or even very good.
• But they possess some element of heroic elements, making
them likable nonetheless.
 UNWILLING HERO

• Unwilling heroes show the traits of a classic hero against their will.
• They are usually sent on a quest reluctantly, forced to fight for a cause
that they don’t believe in or that they don’t feel qualified for.
 EVERYMAN HERO

• Everyman heroes include normal, day-to-day people whose hard work and
dedication show heroic characteristics.
• Everyman characters are easily relatable and do NOT possess actual
superpowers.
Antiheroes
By Mr. Idris
 ***A hero is someone that has to overcome conflict and
trials. This character also goes on either a literal or
figurative journey that requires them to use their skills and
knowledge to overcome hardship or problems.
 An antihero is a protagonist usually but not always. They
lack the typical characteristics of a hero, such as courage,
morality, ambition, special abilities, or a desire for the
Definition greater good. This central character lacks the characteristics
an audience associates with a conventional hero.
 Antiheroes are ambiguous heroes (protagonists)—complex
characters who have a dark side. Despite a flawed exterior, a
history of bad decisions, and even a questionable moral
code, an antihero is ultimately guided by good intentions.
 Will have the reader’s sympathy—although this is
sometimes difficult for us!
  Is imperfect/ has imperfections
 Has inner demons– we learn about these during the
course of the story
 Is often a screw-up, outsider, or loner
 Rebels/ struggles with good and bad
 Riddled with paradoxical traits– for example: they of
Definition are a loner, but also seek friendships.
 Often will voluntarily help the innocent/ weak

***Do not confuse an antihero with an unwilling hero

(who works for the greater good, but lacks confidence,
or the antagonist who actively works against the
protagonist).
But make no mistake, although they are called
a hero:
They…
 aren’t role models
 are usually selfish
 are motivated by self interest
or self preservation
 often make bad choices because it’s easier
 will embody bad behaviors when “wronged”
 will show little remorse for bad behavior
 Hero Anti-Hero Villain

Why are they

even a
considered a
hero at all?

An anti-hero is a protagonist who has the contrasting characteristics of a

traditional hero. Anti-heroes are complex and are not entirely “good,” but
earn the sympathy of their audience because of their redeeming qualities.
  

The anti-hero can serve a great purpose if used skillfully. An anti-hero brings
the spice and flavor to a script that an ordinary hero-villain format cannot.
He/she can be used to represent many things at the same time such as- social
flaws, human frailties, and a commentary on political culture.
 

Instead of having two different people represent two extremes, an anti-

hero combines both into one person- showing the real side to human
Function of the nature. Suffering and sorrow are a part of human life. We relate better to a
Anti-Hero character that has suffered through life and has both good and bad sides than a
character that is only seen doing good.
 

Anti-heroes are relatable and the reader becomes invested in their

development. You root for them to be successful and become frustrated when
they stumble. This is why people associate themselves with some stories more
than others. Writers use anti-heroes in order to stimulate their audience’s
intellect and push them to think more deeply about morality, ethics, and the
responsibility an individual has on his/her life. LiteraryDevices Editors. “Anti-Hero”
LiteraryDevices.net. 2013. Web. 14 Jan. 2017.
  Antiheroes are imperfect, usually act out of self-
interest, and have complicated histories and emotions.
 Life isn’t ideal, often leaving us in difficult circumstances
where it seems that there’s no straightforward, 100%
right choice.
 For example, if a man’s family is starving, should he steal
a loaf of bread to feed them if that’s his last chance to
Conclusion save them? It’s a difficult moral quandary, and certainly, a
case can be made for either side.
 As decent people, we’d probably spend a good deal of
time agonizing over which is the right thing to do, which
option should be taken.
 But antiheroes just straight-up steal the bread. And they
don’t just steal it; they make a show of it, criticizing
everyone for not giving them the bread in the first place.
Movie Clip –
How to Trai
n Your Drag
on
 In literature and other media, antiheroes typically break down into 3 main
types:

1. The “rough around the edges” hero (unscrupulous).

2.The weak and unimposing hero.
3. The hidden hero

Let’s look at the “rough around the edges” hero (unscrupulous) – These
Characteristics antiheroes ignore common courtesies and defy the standards of their
profession or other expectations.
of an Antihero  There morals fall into a grey zone. They have good intentions but are
driven more out of self-interest rather than the greater good as
mentioned earlier.
 They can be cynical and have a jaded view of the world.
 Their actions are often dictated by past traumas and inner conflict,
revealed through their backstory.
 They don’t think twice about how they achieve their goal and who they
need to push out of their way, and they sometimes even enjoy the dark
side.
Type 1 example -
The “Rough
Around the
Edges” Antihero –
Example: Dr.
Gregory House,
House, M.D.
Rough around the edges
 Dr. House is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s
Sherlock Holmes.
 Both share that they are brilliant, perceptive, and
incredibly oblivious to social norms and common
manners.
 Dr. House struggles with a lack of bedside
manner but makes up for it by solving even the
most difficult medical puzzles faster than anyone.
 The next type of Antihero we will discuss is:
The weak and unimposing hero (Pragmatic) – These antiheroes
are physically weak and are unable to match up to any kind of
physical standoff. They show heroism through their mind and
their heart.
 The pragmatic antihero is a realist. They might associate with
both good guys and bad guys and take whatever action they
Characteristics deem necessary to accomplish their mission.
of an Antihero  Their morals are, for the most part, good, but they won’t
hesitate to do what’s needed to be heroic—even if that means
doing something morally wrong such as taking out (killing) a
few bad guys.
 ***They won’t intentionally cross a line unless it’s for the
greater good.
Type 2 example– The Weak and Unimposing Antihero – Walter
White from Breaking Bad
Weak and Unimposing
 Future drug kingpin is unrecognizable in the
first season of Breaking Bad, as Walter
White is simply a weak-willed chemistry
teacher.
 However, he has a temper, as demonstrated
in this clip.
 Walter’s cancer diagnosis (and later medical
bills), coupled with his brilliant mind will tap
into a whole new persona.
 The next type of Antihero we will discuss is:
The hidden hero – This type of hero appears as the antagonist,
with plenty of “bad guy” traits to match but is revealed later to
actually be a hero the whole time.
 The hidden hero borders on being a villain.
Characteristics  These Antiheroes like to justify their behavior because it results
of an Antihero in something that benefits society, even though their actions
are questionable—and sometimes even psychotic.
 For instance, they might have good intentions and be a
vigilante serial killer of other killers, justifying it because they
only kill other killers.
 Their deeds are those normally associated with an antagonist.
Type 3 example–
The Hidden Hero
– Severus Snape
from the Harry
Potter series
 The Hidden Hero
 Snape is rude, secretive, and openly
envious of the protagonist, Harry Potter.
Harry and his friends continually struggle to
understand where Snape’s loyalties lie.
 J.K. Rowling created an antihero who is the
polar opposite of Harry Potter—a classic hero
in every sense of the word. At every turn, it
appears that Severus Snape is another one of
Harry Potter’s enemies.
The Hidden Hero
 But despite his dark moods, unlikeable
personality, and sometimes downright
mean actions, Rowling explains his true
backstory and reveals his role in
protecting Harry Potter.
 Events of book six reveal him to be a
traitor (one of the antagonist), but it isn’t
until the end of the story that Snape’s full
background is explained, revealing him to
be a on the side of good all along.
 Let’s review the 3 main types again:
 The “rough around the edges” hero (unscrupulous) – These
antiheroes ignore common courtesies and defy the standards
of their profession or other expectations.
Characteristics  The weak and unimposing hero – These antiheroes are
physically weak and are unable to match up to any kind of
of an Antihero physical standoff. They show heroism through their mind and
their heart.
 The hidden hero – This type of hero appears as the antagonist,
with plenty of “bad guy” traits to match but is revealed later to
actually be a hero the whole time.
 Writers use antiheroes to make their protagonist
more interesting and the plot more
unpredictable.
 More importantly, writers use anti-heroes in
order to stimulate their audience’s intellect and
Why study
push them to think more deeply about
antiheroes? morality, ethics, and the responsibility an
individual has on his/her life.
Furthermore, antiheroes break down
stereotypes, showing that truly anyone can be a
hero (or a villain!)