Discussion Topic

Characteristics and definition of a romantic hero

Summary:

A romantic hero is characterized by their rejection of established norms and conventions, a deep introspection, and a focus on individualism. They often possess a strong sense of personal honor, a deep passion, and a tendency to be led by their emotions. Romantic heroes are typically marked by their complexity, often experiencing internal conflicts and embodying ideals of personal freedom and heroism.

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What are the characteristics of a romantic hero?

Another characteristic which I don't think has been mentioned is that the Romantic hero rejects established behaviors and becomes something of a law unto himself, standing for the triumph of the individual over the group.

That being said, there seem to be a wide divergence of opinion among scholars about just what this hero looks like in real life.  The Byronic hero is one model and, as someone has noted, is perhaps the most frequently referenced.  But modern literature, with it's focus on alienation, and created a new kids of "Romantic" hero with less emphasis on the romantic piece and more on the alienation/lonliness --- more of the "Kierkegaard Romanic Hero."

And as a totally unrelated comment to #5, I think it's really sad that we have created a differentiation between Batman and Superman as heroes.  I grew up with both these characters, and I never saw any difference (beside...

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"great toys" vs. super powers) in their moral/heroic stance.  I think what "they" have made of Batman is sad ....

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What are the characteristics of a romantic hero? What are the characteristics of a romantic hero?

Lord Byron created a model for the romantic hero in his long poem, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Byron's hero was so well received and so frequently copied, the term "Byronic hero" came into the language of literature. Byron's hero is sophisticated, mysterious, and a bit dangerous. He is a moody rebel, who can be very arrogant. However, he is very attractive to women who are drawn to his complicated personality, hidden conflicts, and secret past. Some famous Byronic heroes include Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, and even Rhett Butler in Gone With the Wind.

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A romantic hero must possess an understanding of his inner-self or inner-world.  He must also understand the value of his experiences through emotions, intuition, and feelings rather than logically reasoning.  The audience must also be able to emotionally connect with the romantic hero on some level of emotion so that no matter the experience of the hero, the audience will relate to his experiences.

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