epic hero

American  

[ep-ik heer-oh] / ˈɛp ɪk ˈhɪər oʊ /

noun

1. a brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events.

   Beowulf, an epic hero with extraordinary strength.

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Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of epic hero

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

Not every epic hero has to travel from Troy to Ithaca, across Middle-earth or Westeros, or along the Yellow Brick Road to battle monsters, forge unlikely friendships, discover hidden powers and vanquish the shadow that threatens to engulf their world.

From Los Angeles Times

Whenever there is a decline in dharma — this is me paraphrasing Krishna speaking to the epic hero Arjun — and a consequent surge in adharma, I bring myself forth: “In order to reestablish dharma, and to deliver the just while annihilating the unjust, I appear in eon after eon.”

From New York Times

Yeah, we could have used an epic hero about now.

From Literature

All this serves to frame O'Rourke as a figure akin to Luke Skywalker or Odysseus or Jon Snow, an epic hero who has been picked by supernatural forces to lead the rest of humanity.

From Salon

Instead of “One Second,” festival organizers said they would screen Zhang Yimou’s 2002 martial-arts epic “Hero” out of competition.

From New York Times