1. Hero or Idol? a hero is a woman or man who is noted for their nobility, courage and outstanding achievements or even a great warrior an idol is a deity, a false god or something visible but without substance

2. The Greek Hero

3. What Do Luke Skywalker, Simba, King Arthur, Moses, Wonder Woman, William Wallace, & Optimus Prime all have in common?

4. ANSWER: They are all Heroes

5. But what is a Greek Hero?

6. Okay, so what exactly characterizes an Greek Hero? –And what does this have to do with the characters mentioned?

7. Traits of the Greek Hero Unusual Circumstances of Birth Leaves Family and Lives With Others Traumatic Event Leads to Quest Special Weapon Supernatural Help

8. Unusual Birth Often in danger or born into royalty…

9. Leaves Family Raised away from… -or separated from home

10. Traumatic Event The hero’s life is changed forever…

11. Special Weapon Only the hero can wield it…

12. Supernatural Help -god or goddesses help the hero

13. Proves self on Quest Journey and Unhealable Wound Atonement With Father Spiritual Apotheosis More Heroic Traits…

14. Proves Him or Herself The hero performs heroic feats…

15. Journey & Unhealable Wound Hero descends into a gloomy area and suffers wounding from an encounter with evil

16. Atonement With Father The hero either redeems father’s evil deeds or reconciles with father over wrongs done by the hero

17. Apotheosis Hero is rewarded spiritually at the end of his, or her life

18. Aha! –But not all of these characters have all of the characteristics!

19. That’s okay. -They don’t really have to… As long as a hero displays several of these characteristics, he, or she, is in the club!

20. Now, can you think of any other Heroes who fit this mold?

21. References Davis, Bryan M. "The Archetypal Hero in Literature, Religion, Movies, and Popular Culture." 11 Oct 1997. Stephen F. Austin University. (07/07/2009). <http://www.tatsbox.com/hero?http://www.tatsbox.com/hero Nilsen, Alleen P., & Donelson, Kenneth L. Literature for Today’s Young Adults, 8 th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. 2009.