What is an epic hero? While we would like to believe that a hero would always be there to save us when needed, that isn't always the case. All heroes are different, but what makes them epic? Many would answer this question by saying why they are in an epic poem or story; however, this answer is not true. An epic hero, of course, is in an epic narrative, but that's what they accomplish in that specific text. First, an epic hero has to go on a great journey and be in God's favor or should we say the chosen one. Furthermore, he must be considered superior to any other man. For clarification, the epic hero must be bigger, faster, stronger and wiser than anyone else in the story, except the gods of course. Furthermore, an epic hero is usually selfless, a leader, and honorable. These are just some of the specific qualities that an epic hero must possess to be epic. Another characteristic that every epic hero possesses is his tragic flaw. Anyone can be a hero, but it takes a lot more to be considered an epic hero. Some epic heroes from different texts that will be analyzed will be Achilles from the Iliad, Odysseus from the Odyssey, Aeneas from the Aeneid, Socrates from the Republic, Gilgamesh from the Epic of Gilgamesh, Beowulf from Beowulf and King Arthur from Death of Arthur. The first epic hero is the honorable Achilles from Homer's epic poem The Iliad. Achilles is described as a proud and courageous man in this epic with one great tragic flaw. Of course, every epic hero had this one major flaw that ultimately brings him down. For Achilles, his tragic flaw would be that he is proud and gets angry easily; and allows itself to be consumed. Homer states in the Iliad: “But all the men he saw retreat from… middle of the paper… do not undertake an epic journey, he is a great king and endures an epic battle; it is also the face of unity and peace. All of these heroes are epic for their own reasons, but some are more epic than others. Works Cited Galvin, Rachel. "The imprint of immortality." Humanistic studies. 01 September 2002: 18. eLibrary. Network. November 11, 2013. Heydt, Bruce. "Legends of Arthur." British heritage. 01 December 2001: 58. eLibrary. Network. November 11, 2013.Keats, John. "The Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer." National review. May 17th. 2004: 23. eLibrary. Network. November 10, 2013.McAuliff, Coller, Andrea.. "The Odyssey". School setting. 06 September 2004: 4. eLibrary. Network. November 11, 2013.O'Neill, Kathleen.. The Aeneid. Barron's, 2004. eLibrary. Network. November 11, 2013.Warsh, Lewis.. Beowulf. Barron's, 2004. eLibrary. Network. 03 November 2013. Yarbrough, Jane.. La Repubblica. Barron's, 2004. eLibrary. Network. October 13. 2013.