There are many famous articles on "the hero pattern" if you search on the Internet. Lord Raglan is probably the most famous of these. Although not all of the "categories" are filled in every piece of literature, they still fit the pattern.
MY synthesis of the hero patterns:
*separation from parents...they are either spirited away from their parents, their parents die, they are not whom they thought, etc.
*parents are somehow important to the community, either through royalty/leadership, known talents...somehow in the upper-eschalon
*foster family - often is raised by another relative or foster family, might only know partial truths (or nothing) about their parents
*foster family/siblings - often mistreat the hero during childhood
*has to undergo a hardship (usually several years worth) or long journey, or needs to fulfill a quest.
*has unknown "powers" or special abilities or strengths
*gets aid or assistance from animals or "other-worldly" creatures
*friends/confidants - has a few very supportive "die for you" friends; possibly a love interest, but often a circle of friends, not just one best friend
*mentor - has someone wise that offers advice and assistance
*antagonist - while all stories usually have some sort of antagonist, hero stories come against the biggest and baddest
*faces a multitude of evil-doers/leads a war
*love interest is somehow close to the family
Probably more I'm not thinking about.
Other stories that follow the pattern...
King Arthur, Star Wars, Hercules, (someone help me, I know there are more)
from the Bible: Jesus, Moses, David (the original "hero pattern" was derived from Bible stories)
posted 5 years ago. ( permalink )
