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Epic Hero: Definition and Activities

Epic hero definition.

Protagonists come in many varieties. Some are relatable and easy to identify with. Others are constantly struggling and easy to sympathize with. An archetypal protagonist is the "epic hero", a main character with impressive superhuman capabilities who completes awe-inspiring deeds such as taking on a battle with superhuman foes. It was the Greeks who first defined the protagonist known as an epic hero. These heroes of a tragedy must evoke in the audience a sense of heroism through legendary, awe-inspiring lore. An epic hero must be someone whose fortune is brought about by his own admired characteristics. Many of the famous epic poetry, such as The Odyssey and The Iliad, contain these larger-than-life heroes and their deeds. King Arthur, Beowulf, Siegfried, Gilgamesh, and Rama are all examples of epic heroes.

What are the Characteristics of an Epic Hero?

The seven traits of an epic hero.

All epic heroes or epic characters have the same epic hero qualities. According to the epic literary definitions, these characteristics are as follows:

• Noble Birth: Usually a king, prince, demi-god, or god-like nobleman of some capacity.
• Superhuman Abilities: The skilled warrior has the potential for greatness based on their attributes, e.g. cunning, bravery, humility, wisdom, virtue, making them seem to have superhuman abilities and superhuman strength.
• Vast Traveler: Known for making travels to another world or going on a perilous journey to exotic locations by choice or chance, usually to battle against evil.
• Unmatched Warrior: Typically has a reputation for being a larger than life figure, even prior to the beginning of the story.
• Cultural Legend: Before an epic hero can be universally known, he must first be a legend in his culture.
• Humility: The hero performs great deeds for their own sake rather than glory and they demonstrate humility. Heroes that boast, or exhibit hubris may be punished and humbled.
• Battles Supernatural Creatures: The superhuman foes and obstacles he faces are usually supernatural beings, e.g. Grendel, Poseidon, or a cyclops.

Epic Hero Examples

Most epic heroes are larger-than-life, possess heroic qualities, and embody the values of their culture. Here are some examples of epic heroes:

• Beowulf: The protagonist of the Old English epic poem "Beowulf." He is a warrior who fights against monsters and becomes a king.
• Odysseus: The central figure of Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey." He is a Greek hero who faces many challenges on his journey home from the Trojan War and has all the traits of an epic hero.
• Gilgamesh: The protagonist of the Mesopotamian epic poem "Epic of Gilgamesh." He is a powerful king who embarks on a quest for eternal life.
• Achilles: From Homer's epic poem "The Iliad", the hero Achilles is known for his incredible strength and is considered the greatest warrior of his time.
• Arjuna: From the Hindu epic "Mahabharata", he is a skilled archer and warrior who must face a moral dilemma before a great battle.
• King Arthur: This legend was the king of Britain who appears in many medieval tales and romances. He is known for his bravery, his sense of justice, and his wise leadership.

These are just a few examples of epic heroes from different cultures and time periods.

Why Teach Students About Epic Heroes?

Epic heroes are often taught in literature and history classes for a variety of reasons. Here are a few possible reasons:

• Cultural Significance: Epic heroes often come from ancient cultures and societies that are no longer in existence. Studying epic heroes allows us to gain insight into these cultures and the values they held dear.
• Literary Analysis: Epic heroes are often the protagonists of epic poems or narratives, which are significant literary works in their own right. By studying epic heroes, we can learn about literary techniques such as metaphor, symbolism, and characterization.
• Moral Lessons: Epic heroes often embody certain virtues such as courage, loyalty, and perseverance. By studying their stories, we can learn valuable moral lessons and apply them to our own lives.
• Historical Context: Many epic heroes are based on real historical figures or events. Studying them can give us a better understanding of the historical context in which they lived.

Overall, the study of epic heroes can help us gain a deeper understanding of literature, history, and the human condition.

How to Teach Students About Epic Heroes

Introduce the concept of epic heroes.

Start by defining what an epic hero is and provide some epic hero examples from literature or mythology. Explain the traits of an epic hero that make a hero "epic," such as strength, courage, intelligence, and noble qualities.

Read and Analyze Epic Poems or Stories

Choose an epic poem or story such as Beowulf , The Iliad , or The Odyssey , and read it with your students. Encourage them to take notes and analyze the story as they read. Discuss the themes, characters, and plot of the epic, and how they relate to the hero's journey.

Analyze the Hero's Journey

The hero's journey is a common theme in epic literature. Discuss the stages of the hero's journey, such as the call to adventure, the initiation, the challenges faced, and the return home. Have students identify these stages in the epic story they read.

Compare and Contrast Epic Heroes

Have students compare and contrast different epic heroes from different stories. This can be done through group discussions, class debates, or individual essays. Encourage them to analyze the similarities and differences between the heroes and their journeys.

Create your Own Epic Hero

Ask students to create their own epic hero, complete with their own journey, challenges, and character traits. Have them present their hero to the class and explain why they chose certain qualities and characteristics.

Overall, teaching about epic heroes can be a fun and interactive way to engage students with literature and mythology. By analyzing epic poems and stories and creating their own heroes, students can develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the hero's journey. Check out our sample lesson below!

Example Epic Hero Lesson Plan

Overview of the lesson.

What is an epic hero and how do I know who they are? Teach students the literary device and ask them to think deeply about their attributes and how they affect the work as a whole.

Time: 45 Minutes

Grade Level: 8-12

Lesson Specific Essential Questions

• What are the characteristics of someone who has an extensive reputation?
• Can you distinguish an epic hero from a typical character in a work of literature?
• What do we learn from the virtues of an epic hero?

Students will be able to define epic hero, list epic heroes from works of literature, film, or television, and take away the effects of an epic hero on plot.

What students should know and be able to do before starting this lesson: Students should be able to list heroes and villains from popular works of literature or movies and television.

Instructional Materials/Resources/Tools

• Before: Epic Hero Activator Worksheet
• During: Elements of an Epic Hero Template
• Example/After: Odysseus Epic Hero
• Access to Storyboard That

Instructional Tips/Strategies/Suggestions for Teacher

Be specific when asking students to create a storyboard that shows the qualities of an Epic Hero. Make sure that students include an explanation of each attribute as well as a quote that backs up their claim. If they are doing this as a project, having the students download their storyboards to a PowerPoint is a perfect way for them to present an explanation of each cell.

Lesson Details/Procedure

Lesson opening.

Activator: Students will be given Epic Hero Activator Worksheet and instructed to fill in the boxes to the best of their ability. If students cannot fill in Box 3 (List Epic Heroes) then tell them that they may leave it blank. After five minutes ask students to compare lists with someone sitting near them. Then ask each pair to say one hero or villain out loud and make a list on the board. Once that is complete, ask them why they know the lists on the board are heroes or villains? As a class, come up with definitions for each and a list of attributes they possess.

During the Lesson

Teaching the term: Next, ask all students if anyone had prior knowledge and knew what an epic hero is or if anyone has a guess or list of this type of character. If they did, write down on the board what they give for an answer. If no one knows, begin to front-load the term. After giving students the definition, ask them to think of characters from movie, TV, and literature that they think would fall in this category and make a list. Repeat with a think, pair, share and make a list of characters and a list of attributes.

Lesson Closing

Defining the term: After students have come up with a list of attributes that they believe an epic hero possesses, go over definition and characteristics of a hero. Ask students to fill out and keep track of the attributes that make the protagonist of your work an epic hero by writing in the answers to Elements of an Epic Hero Template.

Lesson Extension

After students have finished reading the novel/play, reinforce this lesson by asking them to complete their storyboard that shows each attribute using a scene and quote from the text. This lesson extension coupled with a slide show presentation will help students master the concept of the epic hero.

Add a Presentation

Students can be assessed after their final storyboard project is completed and presented.

Related Activities

Check out these epic hero activities from our guides on Greek Mythology: The 12 Labors of Hercules , Divergent , and Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky .

How to Identify Archetypal Patterns in Epic Hero Stories

Understand archetypal patterns.

Introduce the concept of archetypal patterns to students, explaining that they are recurring themes, symbols, or narrative structures that appear across different stories and cultures. Discuss the significance of archetypes in understanding the deeper meanings and universal elements of epic hero stories.

Study Epic Hero Characteristics

Teach students about the characteristics of an epic hero, such as extraordinary abilities, noble qualities, and a transformative journey. Help them recognize these key traits that define an epic hero and differentiate them from other types of heroes.

Identify Hero's Call to Adventure

Guide students to identify the hero's call to adventure, which marks the beginning of the epic hero's journey. Help them recognize the moment when the hero is summoned or motivated to embark on a quest or undertake a significant task.

Analyze Mentorship and Supernatural Aid

Explore the presence of mentorship and supernatural aid in epic hero stories. Help students identify the wise mentor figures who guide and assist the hero throughout their journey. Discuss the role of supernatural elements or assistance that aid the hero in overcoming challenges.

Examine Challenges and Ordeals

Guide students to examine the challenges and ordeals the epic hero faces on their journey. Help them recognize the trials, conflicts, and obstacles that the hero must overcome to achieve their goal or fulfill their quest. Discuss the significance of these challenges in the hero's growth and development.

Evaluate the Hero's Transformation and Return

Encourage students to evaluate the hero's transformation and return. Help them analyze how the hero undergoes personal growth, acquires new knowledge or skills, and returns to their community or ordinary life with a greater understanding or a boon to share. Discuss the impact of the hero's journey on their character and the world around them.

Frequently Asked Questions about Epic Heroes

What is an epic hero.

The epic hero meaning is a character in literature or mythology who is larger than life and possesses heroic qualities such as courage, strength, wisdom, and cunning. Epic heroes are often the central figures in an epic hero story or an epic poem, and are typically portrayed as being on a quest or journey to accomplish a great feat or to save their people.

What makes an epic hero a hero?

What makes an epic hero a hero is their ability to demonstrate extraordinary feats of bravery, wisdom, and strength in the face of great adversity. The epic hero archetype embodies the virtues of their culture, serve as role models for others, and often exhibit a strong sense of honor and self-sacrifice.

What are the 9 characteristics of an epic hero?

The nine epic hero characteristics are:

• The epic hero at any heroic age is a leader in some way.
• Oftentimes the epic hero is a demi-god or has a weapon that has godlike powers.
• Epic heroes take on a test of courage, skill, and strength.
• Willingness to take on challenges that no one else is willing to take on.
• Epic heroes must prove themselves by taking on a foe or challenge that is greater than the hero.
• Epic heroes show excellence, courage, and strength.
• These heroes have a great deal of cultural abilities and qualities.
• Engages in a final battle with the antagonist/supernatural creatures.
• Epic heroes have a fatal flaw of some sort that show their humility and relatability.

What is the difference between a hero and an epic hero?

The difference between a hero and an epic hero is that epic heroes are larger-than-life figures who embody the virtues of their culture and serve as a symbol of that culture's ideals. While a hero may also possess admirable qualities, they are often more relatable and human than an epic hero, who is typically portrayed as almost godlike in their abilities and accomplishments.

What is an example of an epic hero?

Perhaps the most well known on the epic heroes list is Odysseus, the protagonist of Homer's epic poem, "The Odyssey." Odysseus is a noble and courageous warrior who embarks on a long and perilous journey home after fighting in the Trojan War. He faces many obstacles, including battles with mythical creatures and the wrath of the gods, but ultimately succeeds in returning to his homeland and reclaiming his throne. Odysseus embodies the qualities of bravery, cunning, and wisdom that are highly valued in ancient Greek culture, making him a classic example of an epic hero.

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Definition of Epic

An epic is a long narrative poem that is elevated and dignified in theme , tone , and style . As a literary device, an epic celebrates heroic deeds and historically (or even cosmically) important events. An epic usually focuses on the adventures of a hero who has qualities that are superhuman or divine, and on whose very fate often depends on the destiny of a tribe, nation, or sometimes the whole of the human race. The Iliad , the Odyssey , and the Aeneid are considered the most important epics in western world literature, although this literary device has been utilized across regions and cultures.

Epic comes from the ancient Greek term  epos , meaning story , word, poem. The  Epic of Gilgamesh is considered by many scholars to be the oldest surviving example of a work of literature. This epic, traced back to ancient Mesopotamia in approximately 2100 BC, relays the story of Gilgamesh, an ancient king descended from the gods. Gilgamesh undergoes a journey to discover the secret of immortality.

Characteristics of an Epic

Though the epic is not a frequently used literary device today, its lasting influence on poetry is unmistakable. Traditionally, epic poetry shares certain characteristics that identify it as both a literary device and poetic form. Here are some typical characteristics of an epic:

• written in formal, elevated, dignified style
• third-person narration with an omniscient narrator
• begins with an invocation to a muse who provides inspiration and guides the poet
• includes a journey that crosses a variety of large settings and terrains
• takes place across long time spans and/or in an era beyond the range of living memory
• features a central hero who is incredibly brave and resolute
• includes obstacles and/or circumstances that are supernatural or otherworldly so as to create almost impossible odds against the hero
• reflects concern as to the future of a civilization or culture

Famous Examples of Literary Epics

Epic poems can be traced back to some of the earliest civilizations in human history, in Europe and Asia, and are therefore some of the earliest works of literature as well. Literary epics reflect heroic deeds and events that reveal significance to the culture of the poet. In addition, epic poetry allowed ancient writers to relay stories of great adventures and heroic actions. The effect of epics was to commemorate the struggles and adventures of the hero to elevate their status and inspire the audience .

Here are some famous examples of literary epics:

• The Iliad  and  The Odyssey : epic poems attributed to Homer between 850 and 650 BC. These poems describe the events of the Trojan War and King Odysseus’s return journey from Troy and were initially conveyed in the oral tradition.
• The  Mahābhārata: an epic poem from ancient India composed in Sanskrit.
• The Aeneid : epic poem composed in Latin by Virgil, a Roman poet, between 29 and 19 BC. This is a narrative poem that relates the story of Aeneas, a Trojan descendent and forebear to the Romans.
• Beowulf : an epic poem was written in Old English between 975 and 1025 AD. It is not attributed to an author, but is known for the conflict between Beowulf , a Scandinavian hero, and the monster Grendel.
• The  Nibelungenlied: the epic narrative poem was written in Middle High German, c. 1200 AD. Its subject is Siegfried, a legendary hero in German mythology.
• The Divine Comedy : epic poem by Dante Alighieri and was completed in 1320. Its subject is a detailed account of Dante as a character traveling through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.
• The Faerie Queene : an epic poem by Edmund Spenser published in 1590 and given to Elizabeth I. This poem features an invocation of the muse and is the work in which Spenser invented the verse form later known as the Spenserian stanza .
• Paradise Lost : written by John Milton in blank verse form and published in 1667. Its subject is the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden as well as the fallen angel Satan.

Difference Between Epic and Ballad

Both epic and ballad works date back to ancient history and were passed down from one generation to another through oral poetry. However, these literary devices feature significant differences. An epic is an extended narrative poem composed with elevated and dignified language that celebrates the acts of a legendary or traditional hero. A ballad is also a narrative poem that is adapted for people to sing or recite and intended to convey sentimental or romantic themes in short stanzas, usually quatrains with repeating rhyme scheme . Ballads typically feature common, colloquial language to represent day-to-day life, and they are designed to have universal appeal to humanity as a group. Epic works, however, focus on a certain culture, race, nation, or religious group whose victory or failure determines the fate of an entirety of a nation or larger group but not all of humanity.

Characters in Epic Poetry

An epic poem can have several characters but the main character is always a historical figure or a legendary hero. Such heroes are of noble birth, having superhuman capabilities, with supernatural elements to help them out in difficult situations. He could be an unparalleled warrior, demonstrating superhuman capabilities before superhuman foes. Other characters could be all and sundry, animals , gods and goddesses, and some other superhumans but not equal to the legendary hero. Its classical examples are Odyssey and Illiad . Paradise Lost is the best example of an epic in English Literature.

Features of Main Character in Epic Poetry

The main traits of the central character of an epic are as follows.

• The hero is of a noble birth such as Odysseus.
• He could have superhuman capabilities.
• He is a good traveler and travels to foreign lands.
• He is a matchless warrior and could fight supernatural beings.
• He is a cultural legend and people sing in his praise.
• He is a humble, sympathetic and compassionate fellow.
• He surmounts all obstacles including supernatural foes.

Structure of Epic Poetry

There are several important points in the structure of an epic poem.

• The first line states the theme of the poem such as in Paradise Lost .
• The poem invokes a Muse that has inspired and instructed the poet to write the poem.
• The poem opens from the middle or In Medias Res  and then states the main events.
• The poem includes lists or catalogs of characters, armies, or ships.
• The poem includes long speeches of the main warriors.
• The poem has extended metaphors and extended similes written in iambic pentameter .

Use of Supernatural Characters in Epic Poems

Epic poems often comprise supernatural characters. Some have gods and goddesses such as in Gilgamesh and Odyssey . They help heroes in difficult times. Some have demons and monsters with whom heroes battle and win. Some epics have other supernatural elements with whom the heroes come into contact and win such as Cyclops in Odyssey. Some have mythical creatures such as Eris, Thetis, Enkidu, and Shamas in Gilgamesh.

Origin of Epic Poetry

Gilgamesh is perhaps the earliest known epic that has survived the ravages of time. It is a Sumerian poem of King Gilgamesh and has been traced back to 3,000 BC. It is stated to have the records of King Gilgamesh. Following that, Mahabharta , the ancient Indian epic, was written in 300BC and comprises more than 200,000 verses, the longest epic. Odyssey, Illiad, Paradise Lost, Ramayana, and Shahnameh are some other popular epics of different regions.

Examples of Epics in Literature

Modern readers may consider any lengthy tale of an ancient hero who embarks on a significant journey to be an epic work. However, though this type of heroic story is common in various forms of literature, prose narratives aren’t considered part of the realm of the epic tradition. It’s rare for modern poets to choose epic as a literary device; however, epic poetry remains one of the most influential forms of literature.

Here are some examples of epic poems in literature:

Example 1:  Inferno (first canticle of  The Divine Comedy  by Dante Alighieri)

i am the way into the city of woe, I am the way into eternal pain, I am the way to go among the lost. Justice caused my high architect to move, Divine omnipotence created me, The highest wisdom, and the primal love. Before me there were no created things But those that last forever—as do I. Abandon all hope you who enter here.

This passage is from the first canticle of Dante’s  Divine Comedy ,  Inferno , in which the character Dante makes a journey through Hell guided by the ancient Roman poet, Virgil. As Dante approaches the Gate of Hell, he finds these lines inscribed. The poetic lines represent the “ voice ” of Hell in telling Dante and the reader of Hell’s nature, origin, and purpose. This indicates the pathway of what is to come for Dante on his journey through the epic poem. The inscription describes Hell as a city, structured as a contained geographical area bound by walls and harboring a population of souls suffering various levels and means of torment. This is a parallel for the canticle  Paradiso and its portrayal of Heaven, which is described by Virgil as the city of God.

In addition, the inscription warns that Hell is a place of eternal woes, pain, and loss. Dante witnesses God’s intense punishment of those who sin, lending to Dante’s journey an otherworldly setting that crosses a span of time and memory. The last line of the inscription is an example of the elevated language and tone of Dante’s epic poem. Dante’s character, as well as the reader, are told to “abandon all hope” upon entering the gate of Hell, implying there is no escape from the Inferno with hope intact. Dante’s epic poem is one of the most influential works in the history of literature.

Example 2: Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto

This dog won’t hunt. This horse won’t jump. You get the general drift. However, he keeps on trying, but the fire won’t burn, the kindling is wet, and the faint glow of the ember is weak and dying. He has no other choice then but to let It go and take a nap on the ground there, lying Next to her—for whom Dame Fortune has more Woes and tribulations yet in store.

Ariosto’s epic poem of 1532 is an interpretation of the battles between the Saracen invaders and the Franks. Orlando Furioso is a brave warrior tasked to save his people, indicating a heroic character who is courageous and resolute. However, he suffers from a period of madness due to the seductions of Angelica. This circumstance represents an obstacle for the hero to overcome as a means of fulfilling his journey and destiny in ensuring the salvation of his people. The pairing of valiant duty and passionate love is common in epic poetry. In Ariosto’s work, Furioso ultimately recognizes passion as a weakness not befitting of a knight and he, therefore, returns to placing the importance of duty before any other action.

Example 3: Don Juan by Lord Byron

Between two worlds life hovers like a star, ‘Twixt night and morn, upon the horizon’s verge. How little do we know that which we are! How less what we may be! The eternal surge Of time and tide rolls on, and bears afar Our bubbles; as the old burst, new emerge, Lash’d from the foam of ages; while the graves Of Empires heave but like some passing waves.

Some poets, including Alexander Pope, wrote mock-epics to satirize heroic verse and its elevated stature which became epic works of their own. In “Don Juan,” Byron utilizes the elements of epic as a literary device to reinvent the story of the title character from the Spanish legend of “Don Juan.” However, in Byron’s work, the story of Don Juan is reversed. Rather than portraying the infamous character as a womanizer, he is presented as someone who is easily seduced by women. This allows Byron as a poet to satirize the legend and character of Don Juan in addition to the epic form of poetry as well.

However, though Byron’s epic poem is satirical, it is also masterful in its sixteen cantos of ottava rima or eighth rhyme . “Don Juan” features 16,000 lines in which Byron cleverly utilizes elevated language and tone as a nod to traditional epic poetry, but also intersperses a vulgar style of writing as well to subvert the epic tradition.

Synonyms of Epic

The distant synonyms for epic are a heroic poem, saga, legend, lay, romance , myth , history, chronicle, folk tale, long story, and long poem.

Related posts:

• 15 Epic Uses of Apostrophe in The Iliad

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Beowulf, an epic hero with extraordinary strength.

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Word history and origins.

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He had many qualities of the epic hero, and especially this—that he was the last man in the world to be the epic poet.

Beautifully pictured and poetically told legends of Ireland's epic hero Fionn.

Beautifully pictured and poetically told legends of Irelands epic hero Fionn.

More About Epic Hero

What is an epic hero .

An epic hero is the main character of an epic poem that tells the story of a grand quest in which they use their extraordinary or superhuman abilities to achieve great things.

In literature, a hero is simply the protagonist, or main character. An epic poem (or epic ) is a long narrative poem written in lofty language that usually tells the story of such a hero. Epic heroes perform deeds that you might call epic (impressively great), but they’re called epic heroes specifically because they appear in epic poems.

Two of the most enduring examples of epic heroes are ones you’ve probably heard of: Achilles (hero of the Iliad ) and Odysseus (hero of the Odyssey ). Those ancient Greek epic poems are attributed to the poet Homer and are among the most influential works in Western literature.

What are characteristics of an epic hero ?

If the concept of a hero who uses supernatural abilities to overcome extreme hardships and complete a quest sounds very familiar (ever heard of Luke Skywalker?), it’s because epic heroe s have found popularity in cultures around the world for millennia. The Epic of Gilgamesh , starring the epic hero Gilgamesh , was composed in ancient Babylon around 1800 b.c. and is considered the world’s oldest surviving work of epic literature.

The word epic comes to English via Latin from the Greek root epos , meaning “speech, word, poem, or song.” Early stories featuring epic heroes grew out of myths and legends that were shared by oral tradition (the passing of stories from generation to generation by word of mouth). As such stories became important to a culture, poets began to record their own versions in writing. Scholars often interpret epic heroes as representing the collective beliefs and values of the poet’s culture.

The specific characteristics of epic heroes vary widely from story to story. In the Ramayana , India’s Sanskrit epic from around 300 b.c., the epic hero Rama is an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu who is exiled and must join forces with a monkey king in a battle to rescue his wife and regain his kingdom. In the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf from about 700 a.d., the title hero Beowulf engages in combat with the grotesque monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon (sounds exhausting!).

Despite the plot differences, there are several traits that epic heroes almost always have in common. The epic hero is usually of noble birth or becomes noble during the story. He (historically, epic heroes have almost always been men) is either a god or demigod or has godlike powers or abilities. During the quest, the hero leaves home to face many tests of wisdom and strength against supernatural creatures and forces and inevitably reaches a point at which all seems lost. But don’t fear—the hero finds a way out. More than anything, epic heroes are known for their, well, heroics—brave deeds and feats of strength that allow them to survive and regain their rightful place, often as a king.

It’s this formula that has given us so many memorable characters from so many cultures. Indeed, it is difficult to think of any popular fictional hero who doesn’t exhibit at least some of these elements.

Although the popularity of the epic poem has declined in recent centuries, the tradition of the epic hero has continued into modern times with literary and cinematic equivalents like Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars saga, both Frodo and Aragorn from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings , and Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.

Did you know ... ?

English poet John Milton’s 1667 epic poem Paradise Lost is often considered one of the greatest epic poems in the English language. It may surprise you that some people think that the story’s actual hero is a character better known as one of the all-time villains: Satan .

What are real-life examples of  epic hero ?

While we may not write as much epic poetry these days, epic heroes still inspire many modern stories and influence how we interpret them.

<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hhk4N9A0oCA" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

My class has been arguing whether Harry Potter or Neville Longbottom is the epic hero of this series….. #icandigit — chels✌ (@chelsmm12) January 17, 2013

Bo Jackson just sounds like an epic hero. I think he could take Odysseus or Achilles any day — Bailey Angle (@baileyangle) December 9, 2012

What other words are related to  epic hero ?

Quiz yourself.

True or false?

The concept of the epic hero was invented by ancient Greek poets.

The Anatomy of an Epic Hero: Tracing the Contours of Mythic Greatness

This essay about the epic hero definition explores the characteristics and significance of epic heroes across cultures and eras. It outlines how these heroes, often born under special circumstances, embody the pinnacle of human virtues and cultural ideals. Their narratives, marked by extraordinary skills and moral tests, highlight a journey towards achieving a cause greater than themselves, involving battles, wisdom, and a close interaction with the divine. The piece further discusses the heroes’ legacies, immortalizing their deeds as symbols of heroism for future generations. It concludes by noting the enduring appeal and evolution of the epic hero archetype, even in modern storytelling, emphasizing their role in exploring themes of identity, justice, and transcendence.

How it works

The concept of the epic hero has been a cornerstone of literature and storytelling across cultures, embodying ideals of bravery, sacrifice, and the quest for glory. From the ancient exploits of Gilgamesh and Achilles to the noble journeys of Beowulf and King Arthur, epic heroes transcend the ordinary, venturing into realms that blend the tangible with the ethereal. This exploration seeks to delineate the defining characteristics of an epic hero, tracing their evolution and enduring appeal in narrative traditions.

At its core, the epic hero represents the epitome of human (or sometimes superhuman) virtues and values, often standing as a symbol of cultural identity and collective aspirations.

These characters are typically born under auspicious circumstances, hinting at a destiny that is intertwined with the fate of their community or the broader cosmos. Their journeys are marked by trials that test their strength, wisdom, and moral compass, challenging them to rise above personal flaws and societal constraints.

One of the quintessential attributes of an epic hero is their extraordinary prowess in battle or mastery of skills that far surpass those of ordinary mortals. Whether it is Achilles’ invincibility or Odysseus’ cunning, these traits are integral to their identity and mission. However, what truly distinguishes epic heroes is not just their physical or intellectual superiority, but their willingness to confront the unknown and face insurmountable odds for a cause greater than themselves. This often involves a journey or quest that symbolizes their transformation and the achievement of an almost transcendental state of heroism.

Another significant aspect of the epic hero is their complex relationship with the divine. These characters frequently interact with gods or supernatural entities, receiving aid or opposition that reflects the interplay between fate and free will. The divine connection underscores the hero’s exceptional status while also imposing a burden of responsibility, as their actions can have ramifications that extend beyond the human realm.

The narrative arc of the epic hero often culminates in a legacy that cements their place in the annals of history or mythology. Their deeds and virtues are immortalized, serving as a beacon for future generations and a reflection of the society’s values and ideals. This legacy is a crucial element of the epic hero’s definition, as it signifies the transcendence of the individual’s achievements into a universal symbol of heroism.

In the modern era, the archetype of the epic hero has evolved, finding expression in literature, film, and other media. While the settings and challenges may differ, the essence of the epic hero remains—a character whose journey embodies the quest for identity, justice, and transcendence. Contemporary narratives continue to draw on this rich tradition, reimagining the epic hero in contexts that resonate with today’s audiences while preserving the core attributes that have captivated human imagination for millennia.

In conclusion, the epic hero is a multifaceted figure that embodies the highest aspirations of human endeavor. Through their trials and triumphs, epic heroes offer insights into the human condition, exploring themes of courage, sacrifice, and the pursuit of greatness. Their stories, rooted in the ancient past, continue to inspire and challenge, reminding us of the enduring power of heroism in shaping our collective destiny.

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Epic is a long, often book-length, narrative in verse form that retells the heroic journey of a single person, or group of persons. 

Discover more poetic terms .

History of the Epic Form

The word "epic" comes from Latin epicus and from Greek epikos, meaning "a word; a story; poetry in heroic verse." The elements that typically distinguish epics include superhuman deeds, fabulous adventures, highly stylized language, and a blending of lyrical and dramatic traditions, which also extend to defining heroic verse.

Many of the world’s oldest written narratives are in epic form, including the Babylonian Gilgamesh , the Sanskrit Mahâbhârata , Homer ’s Iliad and Odyssey , and Virgil ’s Aeneid . Both of Homer’s epics are composed in dactylic hexameter, which became the standard for Greek and Latin oral poetry. Homeric verse is characterized by the use of extended similes and formulaic phrases, such as epithets, to fill out the verse form. Greek and Latin epics frequently open with an invocation to the muse, as is shown in the opening lines of The Odyssey . 

Over time, the epic has evolved to fit changing languages, traditions, and beliefs. Some epics of note include Beowulf , Edmund Spenser ’s The Faerie Queene ,  John Milton ’s Paradise Lost , and Elizabeth Barrett Browning ’s Aurora Leigh . The epic has also been used to formalize mythological traditions in many cultures, such as the Norse mythology in Edda and Germanic mythology in Nibelungenlied , and more recently, the Finnish mythology of Elias Lönnrot’s Kalevala . 

In the twentieth century and beyond, poets expanded the epic genre further with a renewed interest in the long poem with the canto . Examples such as  The Cantos by Ezra Pound , Maximus by Charles Olson ,  The Anniad  by Gwendolyn Brooks ,  The Battlefield Where the Moon Says I Love You by Frank Stanford , The Iovis Trilogy  by Anne Waldman , and Paterson by William Carlos Williams  all push and pull at the boundaries of the genre, re-envisioning the epic through the lens of modernism .

Featured Poets

The following poets, as well as many others, are known for their work in the epic form.

Dante Alighieri :  The author of  La Commedia  ( The Divine Comedy ), Dante Alighieri was born Durante Alighieri in Florence, Italy, in 1265.

Anne Carson : A poet, playwright, and classicist, Carson is the author of numerous genre-defying works that borrow from the epic form, including  The Autobiography of Red .

Nazim Hikmet :  Born in 1902 in what was then the Ottoman Empire, Hikmet went on to write multiple epic works, including  Human Landscapes from My Country: An Epic Novel in Verse .

Homer : Credited with composing  The Iliad  and  The Odyssey , Homer is arguably the greatest poet of the ancient world. Historians place his birth sometime around 750 BC.

John Milton : Born in London in 1608, Milton published multiple epic poems, including  Paradise Lost  and  Samson Agonistes .

Virgil :  Publis Vergilius Maro, most famously the author of the Aeneid , was born in northern Italy in 70 B.C.E.

Anne Waldman :  Born in New Jersey in 1945, Anne Waldman is known for her work in mythopoetics and is the author of the feminist epic  The Iovis Trilogy .

“By the time WWII broke out, H. D. was at the height of her idiosyncratic powers.... In  Trilogy , her epic poem in three parts, written during World War II, she enters another phase of her writing—putting her visionary impulses to new uses. H. D. reports on war-torn London—not envisions, not invents or ennobles, but reports. The life of a bombed civilian city is of first importance; the speaker is one of its civilians.” —“ Shot Through with Brightness: The Poems of H. D. ”

“Milton cannot be said to have contrived the structure of an epic poem, and therefore owes reverence to that vigour and amplitude of mind to which all generations must be indebted for the art of poetical narration, for the texture of the fable, the variation of incidents, the interposition of dialogue, and all the stratagems that surprise and enchain attention. But, of all the borrowers from Homer, Milton is perhaps the least indebted.” —“ Blank Verse and Style: On John Milton ”

“Because epics, narrative poetry, and the voices that one grows up hearing were created by men, Notley says, female poets have suppressed what the female mind must have been like before the existence of the forms invented by men.... She writes, ‘there might be recovered some sense of what the mind was like before Homer, before the world went haywire & women were denied participation in the design & making of it....’ In this light, the quoted, collage-like aspect of her epic poem is particularly interesting, as if she's saying the female epic voice can only be quoted, but not generated whole.” —“ Finding the Female Voice: Alice Notley’s Poems and Collages ”

“Some of these long poems are epic (Waldman) and some anti-epic (Schuyler). Some are lyric sequences (Forché), some are hybrid texts (Waldman, Rankine, Williams), and some are book-length single poems with or without sections (Notley, Carson, Mayer, Sikelianos). Some are written in form (Koestenbaum) or look like prose (Stein) or read like a novel (Nelson). The form seems almost compelled to subvert (often by assimilating) genre categories. Still, long poems have more in common than just length, and the fact of their length alone is meaningful.” —Rachel Zucker, “ An Anatomy of the Long Poem ”

Related Poetic Terms

Oral-Formulaic Method :  “Milman Parry (1902–1935) and his student Albert Lord (1912–1991) discovered and studied what they called the oral-formulaic method... referred to as ‘ oral-traditional theory, ’ ‘ the theory of Oral-Formulaic Composition, ’ and the ‘ Parry-Lord theory. ’ Parry used his study of Balkan singers to address what was then called the ‘ Homeric Question, ’ which circulated around the questions of ‘ Who was Homer? ’ and ‘ What are the Homeric poems? ’ ”—Edward Hirsch,  A Poet's Glossary

Poetic Contest : “The poetic contest, a verbal duel, is common worldwide. It has been documented in a large number of different poetries as a highly stylized form of male aggression, a model of ritual combat, an agonistic channel, a steam valve, a kind of release through abuse. The poetic contest may be universal because it provides a socially acceptable form of rivalry and battle.” —Edward Hirsch,  A Poet's Glossary

Verse Novel :  “A novel in poetry. A hybrid form, the verse novel filters the devices of fiction through the medium of poetry. There are antecedents for the novelization of poetry in long narrative poems, in epics, chronicles, and romances, but the verse novel itself, as a distinct nineteenth-century genre, is different than the long poem that tells a story because it appropriates the discourse and language, the stylistic features of the novel as a protean form.” —Edward Hirsch,  A Poet's Glossary

Read more poetic terms.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Odysseus — Is Odysseus A Hero: Main Character of Homer’s Epic Poem

Is Odysseus a Hero: Main Character of Homer’s Epic Poem

• Categories: Homer Odysseus

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Words: 420 |

Published: Nov 19, 2018

Words: 420 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

In summary, Odysseus's heroism in "The Odyssey" is a multifaceted embodiment of the Greek ideal of a hero. His heroic stature is built on a foundation of enduring trials, unparalleled cleverness, and formidable physical strength. These qualities make him not just a hero but the quintessential representation of Greek culture and values. Odysseus's resolute dedication to his crew, his capacity to surmount adversity, and his ability to strategize in challenging circumstances collectively establish him as the epitome of an epic hero within the rich tapestry of ancient Greek literature. His character transcends the pages of "The Odyssey," leaving an indelible mark on the timeless definition of heroism.

One of the key markers of an epic hero is their ability to confront and surmount daunting challenges. Odysseus's journey is fraught with perilous trials that test his mettle. For instance, he had to make the difficult decision to leave the land of the lotus-eaters, despite his crew's enchantment with the tranquil locale. His resolve is evident when he states, "But I brought them back, back to the hollow ships, and streaming tears – I forced them…". This episode not only showcases his physical strength but also highlights the burdens of leadership.

Works Cited:

• Archimedes. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica online.
• Brahmagupta. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica online.
• Descartes, R. (1637). La Géométrie. Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://archive.org/details/lageometriederen00desc_0/page/n3/mode/2up
• Euclid. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica online. Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Euclid
• Liu, D. (2006). Geometry in Ancient China: The Way of Heaven. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing.
• Mozi. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica online. Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mozi
• O'Connor, J. J., & Robertson, E. F. (1996). Thales of Miletus.
• Pythagoras. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica online.
• Schattschneider, D. (1990). The plane truth: Elementary geometry's great theorem. New York: W. H. Freeman and Co.
• Yaglom, I. M. (1968). Felix Klein and non-Euclidean geometry. Mathematical Intelligencer, 1(4), 182-187.

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