Define the archetype hero in your supplementary and the prescribed text

1. Krieger 2015
Area of Study – THE HERO

2. Remember
the concept
statements 

3. Types of Heroes – or –
ARCHETYPE HEROES

4. Doesastoryneedahero?

5. You don’t need to have a hero to have a story…
but… if you want to explore concepts of THE HERO…
you’re going to end-up with a hero somewhere along the lines.

6. WheredoIstart?

7. • Decide on “who” the hero is first… and focus on the
1. Ordinary world of the hero (you must select textual evidence + analysis of
language and film techniques + the effect of the techniques)
2. The Trigger which sets the hero off on his/her journey (you must
select textual evidence + analysis of language and film techniques + the effect of the
techniques)
3. The Process of being heroic…eg: the obstacles / the
problems / the “wins” / the struggle / the losses / the
resources and people who are needed during the process of
becoming a hero. (you must select textual evidence + analysis of language and
film techniques + the effect of the techniques)
4. The Consequences of the hero and the heroic act(s) (you must
select textual evidence + analysis of language and film techniques + the effect of the
techniques)

8. • You will need to define the type
of hero within your text.
• It will help to have some
archetypes of heroes in mind! 

9. Here area few basic types of
heroes youcan look for when you
define your hero.

10. ThePerfectHero

11. ThePerfectHero
Can make readers feel
inspired or perhaps inferior.
Suitable for
superhero comics,
epic fantasy,
fairy tales, or
satirical works
Examples:
Superman
Odysseus
King Arthur
Embodies everything good
about humanity.
Strong
Uncompromising
Selfless
Kind
Decisive
A paragon of virtue.

12. The Misfit

13. The Misfit
Can overcome their
difference or use it to
their advantage.
Examples:
• Harry Potter
• Drizzt Do'Urden
• Rudolph the Red-
Nosed Reindeer
Ostracized because of
some disability.
Some degree of
psychological damage.
Distrustful of others.
Bitter or shy
Social Outcast.
Member of a different
race or religion.

14. The Grizzled Old-Timer

15. The Grizzled Old-Timer
Great Leader.
Can carry a victory.
Serve as an inspiration
in his death.
Suitable for group
settings (he's a good
vehicle for imparting
knowledge to the other
characters)
Examples:
• Gandalf
• Obi-wan Kenobi
• Granny Weatherwax
Doesn't need to
learn the ins and
outs of heroism.
He's the one doing
the teaching.
He may not be in his
prime, but there is
still plenty of fight left
in him.
They've “been there and
done that”.

16. The “Everyman” Hero – or - the
everyday, ordinary hero

17. The “Everyman” Hero – or - the
everyday, ordinary hero An “everyman hero”
is a one we can
relate to in some
way.
We could see
ourselves in his
place.
Examples:
• Arthur Dent
• Edmund Pevensie
• Bilbo Baggins
Who in The
Castle???
Sometimes all it takes
is to be in the right
place at the right time
and choose to do the
right thing.
There is no special
power, no divine sign
that tells this hero he is
destined for greatness.
It isn’t always the
smartest or the
strongest who become
heroes.

18. TheAnti-Hero

19. TheAnti-Hero Greed, brutality,
ruthlessness,
selfishness… these are
the anti-hero’s anti-
virtues.
Common visible virtues
can be sympathy for a
particular victim, a soft
spot for underdogs, or
even an honest desire to
repent.
Examples
• Captain Jack
Sparrow
• Ned Kelly
• Han Solo
He makes us ask:
Can one good deed
be enough to redeem
someone? What if he
goes back to his old,
disreputable ways?
He’s someone
totally ill-fit to the
role but must don
(wear) the mantle
(title) of hero.
He probably doesn’t like
it and probably wants to
be rewarded for his
efforts… but he’s willing
to shoulder the load and
get it done.

20. TheProdigy

21. TheProdigy(likean
“apprentice”)
Suitable to pair with the
grizzled old veteran
who could show the
way of the world.
The prodigy can go
step by step along the
Hero’s Journey, which
itself is basically an
instruction book for
Prodigy heroes.
Examples:
• Luke Skywalker
• The Karate Kid
• Paul Atreides
The prodigy is raw and
uninformed and
“undeveloped”, the
perfect material to build
a story around.
He needs to learn
everything,
to experience the
wonders of whatever
power makes him
special.
He has distinct
undeniable potential;
if only the right
circumstances can
unlock it.

22. TheUn-Hero

23. TheUn-Hero
Generally, the un-
hero is in all the
wrong places at all
the wrong times.
Does more to
hinder the
cause of good
and justice
than to help it.
He’s almost like the
everyman. With a key
exception: he rarely
ends up being a
proper hero.
Suitable for
a less serious heroic
form and should be
reserved for a
less serious work.
Examples:
• Inspector Gadget
• Mr. Furious
Somehow for this
hero, everything
works out in the
end and he/she is
heaped with the
credit.

24. Thereyouhaveit.
Doyouhaveanarchetypethatneedstobeaddedto
thelist?
Youshouldhavenoticedaparticulararchetypicalhero
that I’vemissed;)

25. THE TRAGIC HERO
What is a “tragic hero”?
• A character who is (was?) noble, courageous and loyal – but
who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw.
• The error of judgment (believing in lies or gossip or threats) or
the flaw in character (ambition? greed? power hungry?
weakness or cowardice?) will eventually lead to the “hero’s”
tragic death.
Krieger 2015 25

26. TRAGIC HERO
Krieger 2015 26

27. If you believe that Macbeth is a
TRAGIC HERO
you will need to find scenes and quotes
in the play which prove that he “fits
into” the definition of an archetype
TRAGIC HERO
Krieger 2015 27

28. In Literature?
A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of
purpose, especially one who has risked or
sacrificed his or her life.

29. In mythology and legend…
a hero is a man or woman, often of divine
ancestry, who is endowed with great courage
and strength, and celebrated for his/her bold
exploits, and… favoured by the gods.

30. THE END
L Krieger 2015
30