Heroes & Heroines: Part II

       Okay. Now we can get into the fun post – types of heroes and why they are heroes. (I’m dealing with the basic contrasting stereotypes; if I miss an essential one, please feel free to add it in the comments below.) For sake of convenience I’ll be referring to them as “he”, but these definitely apply to heroines, too.

 

1. The Everyday
   WHO: This hero could be your next-door neighbor, or he could even be you (she if you’re a girl). The qualities that make him up are the simplistic qualities you’d find in just about anyone else – with the exception that, because he’s the good guy, he usually has a strong moral conscience.
   WHY: He is a hero because he is just like us – an ordinary person who chose to take the initiative because it was the right thing to do.
2. The Exceptional
   WHO: This hero is the sort of person you don’t usually meet up with. Talented, skilled, full of potential that your average Joe wouldn’t even understand let alone have. Sometimes this hero looks down on others for not being as gifted; other times, this hero feels self-conscious about how different he is.
   WHY: He is a hero because he chooses to use his extraordinary gifting for good, rather than just sit by and watch.
3. The Superhero
   WHO: This hero is the sort of handsome, sophisticated, usually physically strong hero that has a commanding presence and is VERY pleasant to look at. Oftentimes, this hero is incredibly muscular (usually has fantastic abs) and thus is able to do a lot of hard things most other people can’t.
   WHY: He is a hero because he can take out the bad guy when no one else can, although if his only role in the story is to beat everybody up, he’s a pitiful hero.
4. The Plain Jane
   WHO: This hero is the exact opposite of the superhero – weak, clumsy, unattractive. He commonly is the victim of a chronic illness or disability and is often overlooked by people around him
   WHY: He is a hero because he is the most unlikely choice for a hero of all – someone that most people discredit, who has huge obstacles to overcome, and yet does it all for the cause of right or for those he loves.
5. The Diva
   WHO: This hero is that charismatic socializer that fits in anywhere. No matter where he is or whom he is with, he will inevitably become the center of attention. This kind commonly starts off as a more villain type character, experiences extreme dramatic setbacks, and has to start over again as the Black Sheep kind.
   WHY: He is a hero because of his journey,  whether he is always the popular kid and has to deal with the repercussions and dramas of that position, or because he suddenly is lowered in status and has to learn how to be normal.
6. The Black Sheep
   WHO: This hero is extremely common in YA novels because it is a hero most teenagers relate exceptionally well to. He is the sort of person who never fits in, who always does or says the wrong thing, who is surrounded by people who have found their place in their world and is desperately trying to keep up with them.
   WHY: He is a hero because he refuses to conform to what others try to make him be, instead following his beliefs of right and wrong and allowing himself to just be himself (which is usually how he saves the day).
7. The Silent Warrior
   WHO: This hero is a contemplative hero. He doesn’t talk much. He doesn’t smile much. He simply works hard and listens. He’s the sort who surprises everyone with how smart he is or by how good a plan he has configured just by thinking things through first. When he does talk, he has something important to say.
   WHY: He is a hero because when the time comes to act, he is ready. He doesn’t stand around talking; he doesn’t waste time boasting. He just goes in, does his job, and comes out again.
8. The Dragon Slayer
   WHO: This hero is the exact opposite of the Silent Warrior. He talks all the time, laughs a lot and tends to launch straight into things without thinking twice. He is well-known for his elaborate stories and ludicrous adventures, but half of what he says is highly exaggerated.
   WHY: He is a hero because he will not delay to take up any challenge laid before him especially if it’s a matter of right and wrong.
9. The Homebody
   WHO: This hero leaves home only because he has to, and usually spends half the book fighting to get back. His main goal is to preserve the land he loves and the people he loves. He’s usually known as patriotic and is generally a peaceful hero – unless you mess with his home.
   WHY: He is a hero because he will fight to the death to protect his homeland and his family.
10. The Wanderer
    WHO: This hero doesn’t have a home, and if he does he never visits. Instead, he’s constantly moving about, touring the world, usually in search of adventure. Thus he usually is the first to get into trouble or stumble upon international intrigue. His highest quality is his knowledge – he’s been everywhere so he knows everything.
    WHY: He is a hero because lacking a home gives him nothing to fear losing, and so he can do what he needs to and go where he has to go without worrying for anybody else’s safety.
11. The Dark Warrior
    WHO: This hero is haunted by his past, a lingering collage of memories that usually surface in flashbacks or a lot of conversations with his new friends. He is commonly running away from his past, sometimes from someone in his past, and always from his past – and present – self.
    WHY: He is a hero because he has come out of a life of darkness and now lives for the sake of all that is good.
12. The Happy-Go-Lucky
    WHO: This hero doesn’t relate well to the Dark Warrior because he hasn’t experienced that kind of pain and trauma. He’s lived in relative peace and happiness his whole life, had family or friends to take care of him, and has been raised to live for good. Usually this kind of hero finds his life suddenly shattered and ends up with the Dark Warrior as a sidekick to help him realize not all of life is sunshine and rainbows.
    WHY: He is a hero because he knows what good is, he fights for it and he is incapable of succumbing to despair.
13. The Loner
    WHO: This hero is most often seen in the corners of taverns with a hood pulled over his face and nobody at his table. Usually he doesn’t relate well to other people, so he doesn’t bother hanging out with them. He does things by himself, he’s always in charge, and that’s how he prefers it.
    WHY: He is a hero because single-handed he can take out the entire army of bad guys, and that is something the bad guys dread.
14. The Side-Kick Collector
    WHO: This hero doesn’t like being left to do things himself. He prefers to designate, to have multiple people around to back him up, even someone else he can back up. His closest friends are also his co-conspirators. He works well with people and likes to let them see their full potential.
    WHY: He is a hero because he pulls those around him together and makes them into a fearsome fighting force.
15. The Man with a Plan
    WHO: This hero is task-driven. His whole purpose in life is to create elaborate, complex schemes and see them through to completion. His genius is usually unparalleled as he outwits the villains and brings about his purpose with a well-thought-out plan. He’s rarely the most likeable of heroes, but he is irreplaceable in their ranks.
    WHY: He is a hero because his incredible brains give him the ability to counter the evil genius of master villains.
16. The Man of Spontaneity
    WHO: This hero drives the Man with a Plan crazy almost all the time. He doesn’t think before he acts; he doesn’t strategize. His way of doing things is to leap straight in and take it as it comes. He usually comes with a temper. While often a troublemaker, his ready-fire-aim mentality allows him to immediately take on situations without wasting precious time on them.
    WHY: He is the hero because he doesn’t sit around and wait for the enemy – he goes after the enemy.
17. The Moral Conscience
    WHO: This hero is someone who knows what he believes and lives that out. He isn’t afraid of the jokes of others; he knows that he has a higher calling, and he chooses sides accordingly. There is never a doubt in his mind as to what he should do – unless he faces a gray area, and even then it doesn’t take him forever to decide what he can and cannot do based on that conscience.
    WHY: He is a hero because of his shining character and the goodness of his heart, which allows him to fight for what he believes without wavering.
18. The…Lack of Moral ConscienceWHO: This hero is full of himself. He is best described as licentious, sarcastic, and disrespectful. He always gets the girl and doesn’t usually care enough about her to take her on a second date. While at first he sounds like the opposite of a good guy, his extreme liberalistic mindset is often the groundwork for excellent character development as he faces choices that cause him to second guess himself and his lifestyle. (NOTE: a hero is the person we look up to in the story, so if you don’t want to encourage your audience to live life as perverts you’ll have to write about this hero with delicacy.)WHY: He is a hero because he is a good fighter. Otherwise, he isn’t really much of a hero and is more annoying that inspiring.

       In my third post in this series on heroes and heroines, I’ll be bringing out examples of each of these hero types I looked at in this post, and in the following I'll list ways that a writer can combine these traits to create a believable, well-rounded hero or heroine. Keep an eye out and be ready to comment!

      Sincerely,

            Yours Truly