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mythic hero

mythic hero

6.6
A brave person in old stories who does great deeds
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪθɪk ˈhɪəroʊ/
  • Literature
translation icon : héroe mítico
  • Dad is insane to try and get the testimony of some mythic hero... named Angel Blade that we can't even find!

Examples

  • Some kind of mythic hero.

  • That the mythic hero kills his father and usurps his place would be highly improper in a children's book.

    Academic text (2001)
  • John Henry, as things now stand, is the mythic hero of a folk legend.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Like the mythic hero, the child character must depart from the ordinary situation in order for there to be a plot.

    Academic text (2001)
  • And that's what the that's what the mythic hero has got to do, has got to kill that dragon.

  • He too is a mythic hero of the morally abject.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The mythic hero is, however, not a common figure in children's fiction, for myth as such is absent in the history of Western children's literature.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Bond may not have the thousand faces of Joseph Campbell's mythic hero, but he has comfortably fit the features of six quite different actors, from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig.

    Blog text (17)
  • Achilles is often considered a mythic hero due to his remarkable strength and valor in battle.

  • In ancient tales, Hercules is a mythic hero known for completing impossible tasks that showcase his bravery.

Synonyms

legend
vsmythic hero
256 3.5

A very famous person admired for great achievements

is the figure from epic stories known for extraordinary deeds rather than general fame
hero
vsmythic hero
  • Literature
124 5.5

A strong, brave figure from old myths who is often part human and part god

is a legendary figure known for extraordinary deeds rather than parentage
superhero
vsmythic hero
  • Informal
31 3.7

A real person admired for brave, kind actions that help others

is a legendary fictional figure from ancient stories rather than a real admired person

Antonyms

272 3.3

A person who does very bad things, often the main bad character in a story

5 2.0

A person or thing that is not special

How Heroic

demigod
  • Literature
10 8.1
mythic hero
  • Literature
6.6
hero
1.1
protagonist
69 4.4
character
3.2

Surface Forms

mythic hero singular
mythic heroes plural

Morphology

mythic + hero

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'mythic' (relating to myths or legends) combined with 'hero' (a heroic or legendary figure). This simple adjective+noun composition follows normal English patterns and has clear cross-linguistic parallels, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Mythic hero may come from old storytellers who put a brave hero into a mythic tale of gods and wonders. That hero did amazing, often impossible deeds, so the phrase now means a 'legendary' or 'larger-than-life' person.