How to Write Classical Heroes That Stand the Test of Time
What makes a hero truly timeless? Audiences have loved stories featuring classical heroes for centuries! Classical heroes have stood as symbols of bravery, honor, and sacrifice – all traits that readers would like to see in themselves and those around them.
From Achilles to King Arthur, these figures follow a familiar path—one that tests their strength, challenges their morals, and, in the end, shapes their destiny.
The appeal of classical heroes lies in their journey. They often start with noble lineage or a fateful prophecy, face overwhelming odds, and emerge either victorious or forever changed. Their stories often reveal deep struggles with duty, pride, and fate, as well as showing off their abilities on the battlefield.
In this article, you’ll learn nine tips to make writing great heroes easier. You’ll learn about the classic heroic figure archetypes, explore examples from literature, and be given great tips for developing your own epic hero characters.
Read on to learn more!
Nine Tips for Writing Classical Heroes
Use Established Hero Archetypes
Whether writing superheroes or normal people, use the hero types described above (i.e., the “outcast,” the “rebel,” or the “everyman”) to draw on the conventions of classic heroes. This will make your characters recognizable while also drawing parallels between fiction and real life.
Explore Backstory
Give your hero a detailed backstory that explains their goals, motivations, and relationships.
Create Conflict
Write compelling conflicts between the hero and antagonists to highlight their strengths and weaknesses.
Develop Character Traits
Be sure to provide positive and negative traits for your hero to make them a believable and relatable character.
Create Intrigue
Bring out elements of mystery throughout the story to heighten suspense and create intrigue about the hero’s character development.
Show Your Hero’s Flaws
Ensure your hero has human flaws so readers can relate to your protagonist from a realistic perspective. Greed, lust, excessive pride, cowardice, and insecurity are great inner obstacles for any hero to overcome as part of their life journey.
Incorporate a Journey
Structure the story around an epic journey – external or internal – that tests your hero’s courage and allows them to develop as a character through obstacles faced along the way.
Add A Sidekick or Mentor
Include other characters who can support and help the classical hero or heroine in challenging times as they face their struggles head-on.
Fight Fearlessly
Let your hero character face danger courageously but also show how they handle failure when it occurs—this gives readers a chance to see the true nature of their heroism in action.
Great Examples of Classical Heroes
Hercules
Hercules is a perfect example of a classic Greek hero known for his strength and power.
Though as a demigod, he is anything but an ordinary man, his struggles and loss are portrayed in such a way that normal people can easily relate.
In the end, it’s more through sheer determination and perseverance than great strength that allows him to overcome incredible obstacles.
Hercules was tasked with twelve seemingly impossible tasks, including overcoming dangerous monsters and retrieving mythical objects. Through his never-ending dedication and unwavering courage, he completed the arduous tasks during his hero’s journey.
His extraordinary achievements are the stuff of legend, inspiring admiration and wonder centuries later.
That’s why Hercules stands as one of the oldest examples of an archetypal classical hero: a single figure taking on immense challenges posed by the gods themselves and triumphing against all odds.
Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch is considered one of the greatest fictional heroes of all time. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch stands out for his compassion, sense of justice, and natural empathy.
He is unshakably principled and devoted to seeing things through, no matter the cost.
His bravery in defending a wrongly accused black man in depression-era Alabama in the face of intense prejudice from his friends and neighbors is an inspiring example that still resonates today.
Atticus Finch not only sets an example as a heroic figure but also encourages us to live with integrity and strive for justice.
Superman
Superman is one of the most outstanding examples of a classical hero.
His story has inspired people worldwide since it first began, and his characteristics make him a true icon in pop culture.
He is a selfless rescuer, always willing to put himself in harm’s way for those he loves and for any innocent victims.
Superman possesses incredible strength and fortitude, making him an unstoppable force. But these physical attributes are nothing compared to Superman’s unwavering willpower and sense of justice and mercy.
He hasn’t let his power become corrupted by selfish ambitions; instead, he protects all citizens as if they were family and goes to great lengths to serve justice.
Superman will remain one of the most powerful symbols of heroism for generations to come – idealistic, brave, and noble.
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is another exceptional example of a classical hero.
As the central character of JK Rowling’s beloved series, Harry experiences all the classic hero traits: self-sacrifice and bravery in dangerous situations; loyalty to friends; close relationships with wise mentors, such as Professors Dumbledore and Lupin; and the ultimate triumph over evil.
What sets Harry in a class by himself is his resilience, resourcefulness, and determination to do what is right, despite overwhelming odds and his fears.
Every reader can identify closely with him as he experiences losses, setbacks, and successes along his journey. His strength of will makes Harry an ideal classical hero for every generation!
What are Classical Heroes?
Classical heroes in literature are complex figures who are often tasked with overcoming challenges and adversity.
They possess strength, courage, and intelligence that allow them to make tough decisions when faced with difficult situations.
Examples of heroes such as Beowulf, King Arthur, and Odysseus embody these traits with their daring deeds of bravery.
From Greek Mythology to Shakespearian plays to classic superhero comic books to modern movies, their challenges can range from completing a quest to fighting evil forces to simply bettering themselves.
Their actions during challenges help define the storylines they inhabit and illustrate their character’s strengths and weaknesses.
As a reader, it is always inspiring to witness these main characters triumph in their struggles against all odds!
Twelve Classical Hero Archetypes
Let’s look at each hero archetype and learn about their extraordinary abilities and how they act heroically in fantastic stories.
There are many hero types beyond simple mythological figures, and often, the best heroes display traits of multiple archetypes.
The Warrior
The Warrior is a brave, strong, fearless character who fights to protect something they value.
Examples of this epic hero archetype include Lancelot in Arthurian legends, Wonder Woman, Conan in Hyborian legends, and Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings.
The Mentor
This figure is an older, wiser, and often magical figure who typically guides the protagonist on their quest, often placing themselves in harm’s way to do so.
Examples of the mentor (or sage) include Mary Poppins, John Keating in The Dead Poets Society, Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid, and Ben Kenobi in Star Wars.
The Outcast
This type of hero faces an uphill battle as they fight to find acceptance in a society that shuns them and doesn’t understand them or their abilities.
Examples include Don Quixote, Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, and The Grinch.
The Innocent
This innocent and naïve hero character explores the world around them with optimism but must face brutal truths along the way.
Examples include Luke Skywalker from Star Wars, Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and Alice in Alice in Wonderland.
The Rebel
This anti-hero bucks the status quo and challenges traditional values to make a statement about what is right and wrong in their world.
Examples include Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, Tyler Durden in Fight Club, and Rorschach in The Watchmen.
The Lover
This romantic hero strives for love and often has to overcome impossible odds to win.
Examples include Jane Eyre, Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones, Romeo and Juliet, and Rhett Butler in Gone With the Wind.
The Fool
A humorous yet, at times, surprisingly astute type of hero who finds themselves at a crossroads between folly and wisdom, often coming out ahead due to their wit and luck.
Examples include Zaphod Beeblebrox in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Hamlet, Major Major in Catch-22, and Peregrin (Pippin) Took in The Lord of the Rings.
The Caregiver
This is the steadfastly loyal and trusting character who places friends and family above all others, even if it means putting themselves in harm’s way.
Examples include Mrs. Weasley in the Harry Potter series, Oscar Schindler in Schindler’s List, Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings, and Maria in The Sound of Music.
The Tragic Hero
The tragic hero is a character who, despite their best efforts and intentions, ultimately falls victim to an external force beyond their control or succumbs to their inner demons.
Examples of tragic heroes include Achilles in The Iliad, Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, Oedipus in Oedipus Rex, and Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby.
The Ruler
The ruler character is the one at the top, responsible for the safety and well-being of all those in their care while also relying on the conviction to mete out justice when required.
Examples include King Arthur in Arthurian legends, Mufasa in The Lion King, Vito Corleone in The Godfather, and Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada.
The Creator
A creative genius with a vision few share or fully comprehend – this hero is driven by the need to better their world in some way, often putting work above all else.
Examples include Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Dr. Jekyll in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein, and Tony Stark in Iron Man.
The Everyman
The everyman hero of classical literature is a character who is seen as an average, ordinary person with whom readers can sympathize.
Examples include Jonathan Harker in Dracula, Jefferson Smith in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and Charlie Brown.
Final Thoughts
Now that you understand how to create a classical hero in your stories, it’s time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).
Try it out for yourself! Use and blend hero archetypes, create backstories and personalities for your classical heroes, and write many conflicts in your story! With these elements, you’ll be well on your way to writing a timeless story featuring a memorable hero.
Are you an author interested in writing a great story? Check out these other great articles!
What Is Conflict in A Story? [Definition, Types, and Examples]
What are the 7 Elements of a Story? [Essentials to Include!]
