Some of the most popular stories in myth are the hero myths. In these myths, humans, rather than the gods, are on center stage. These stories of love and adventure answer the question of how we should live in the world. Although frequently larger than life, the heroes model the behavior we all should follow. Their successes enthrall us, and their failures remind us of our own frail humanity.

Some of these stories have come down to us as epics, like the Iliad or Beowulf. Others, particularly from the Greeks, have been preserved in plays like Oedipus Rex or Antigone. Still others have been preserved in folklore and legend.

In Module 4, we will examine some of the major theories and ideas mythologists have used to help us understand myth, looking particularly at the common symbols, plots, or events that shape various hero myths. We will also examine specific epics and the influence of Greek theater. We will also look at some of the principal epics from around the world. Finally, we will look at the love stories contained in myth and some of the concepts that have shaped the romantic views presented in later epics.

Hero as Exemplar

Heroes are models of human behavior for a society or exemplars. They are heroic, not just for their accomplishments, but because they become more human by their experiences. Heroes also reflect the values of their culture, so that a character who may seem heroic to one culture may seem less so to another. For instance, students in America have trouble seeing the Greek hero Jason as heroic because he seems to be a manipulator and opportunistic. But the Greeks admired him for these traits, for his cleverness in using other people to achieve his ends. Readers of mythology should remember that heroes are not perfect. Some heroes are unable to accept their own mortality. Most heroes find they must choose between individual desire and responsibility to society. Their choices and how those choices are valued and interpreted reflect their culture and society, and our reactions to those stories highlight the similarities we share with the hero's culture and our unique differences.