Hero

     Here I come to save the day!
          — Mighty Mouse (1940)

A hero is a man or woman (then often called a heroine), traditionally the
protagonist of a story, legend or saga, commonly possessed of powers far
beyond that of a standard human, which enable him or her to perform some
truly extraordinary, beneficial deed (an "heroic deed") for which he or she
is famous. These powers are sometimes not only of the body but also of the
mind. Heroes are typically opposed by villains.

A person normally becomes a hero by performing an extraordinary and
praiseworthy deed. Traditional deeds are slaying of monsters and saving
people from certain death. A hero normally fulfills the definitions of what
is considered good and noble in the originating culture. However, in
literature, particularly in tragedy, the hero may also have serious flaws
which lead to his downfall, e.g. Hamlet.

Sometimes a real person might achieve enough status to become a hero in
people's minds. This is usually complemented by a rapid growth of myths
around the person in question, often attributing him or her with powers
beyond those of ordinary mortals.

Some social commentators prescribe the need for heroes in times of social
upheaval or national self-doubt, seeing a requirement for virtuous
role-models, especially for the young. Such myth-making may have worked
better in the past: current trends may confuse heroes and their hero-worship
with the cult of mere celebrity.

Well-known heroes approach the gods in status in some cultures. The word
hero comes from Ancient Greek, where it describes a culture hero who figures
in mythology. The Greek heroes were often the mythological characters who
were the eponymous founders of Greek cities, states, and territories. These
mythological heroes were not always role models or possessed of heroic
virtue; many were demigods, the offspring of mortals and the gods. The age
when heroes of this sort were active, and where the stories of Greek
mythology were set, is frequently known as the "heroic age;" the heroic age
ends shortly after the Trojan War is over and the legendary combatants have
returned to home or exile.

Famous heroes include: Hercules (ancient Roman Empire), King Arthur
(medieval England), Hua Mulan (China), Beowulf (Iron Age Scandinavia), and
Stenka Razin (Russian folk hero). The twelve paladins of Charlemagne were
important heroes whose stories were important in the development of courtly
love and chivalric romance.

A book of recent fame, dealing with the telling of heroic stories, is called
The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell.

     Show me a hero and I'll write you a tragedy
          — F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Hero is also a Greek name, applying to several characters in mythology and
fiction.

In William Shakespeares play Much Ado About Nothing Hero is a female
character.

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Hero is a Chinese film.

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