What are the common themes in a 'Story of a Hero' short story?

One common theme could be self - discovery. The hero often embarks on a journey where they learn more about themselves. Another might be courage. They face various challenges that require them to be brave.

Another theme is courage. In 'The Most Dangerous Game', Rainsford shows great courage as he faces General Zaroff, a man who hunts humans, with no hesitation. He doesn't cower but instead devises plans to outwit his pursuer.

One common theme is self - sacrifice. Heroes often put others' needs before their own. For example, in many hero stories, the hero will risk their life to save the villagers from a powerful monster.

Another theme is sacrifice. Heroes in short stories frequently have to give up something valuable, like their time, safety, or even their lives in the pursuit of a greater good. This is seen in stories where a hero risks everything to save their community from a disaster.

A common theme is the hero's transformation. They might start out as an ordinary person and then through a series of events in the short story, they become a true hero. Take Frodo in 'The Lord of the Rings' short stories (extracts can be considered as short stories). He starts as a simple hobbit but is transformed by the quest to destroy the Ring into a heroic figure. Also, the theme of friendship often plays a role, as heroes usually have comrades who support them on their journey.

One common theme is the hero's fatal flaw. In many stories, like 'Macbeth', Macbeth's ambition leads him to commit heinous acts and ultimately to his downfall. This flaw within the character is often what drives the tragic events.

Self - discovery is also a theme. Anti heroes are often on a journey to figure out who they are. In 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find', the Misfit is trying to come to terms with his own identity in a world that he feels has wronged him. And then there's the theme of rebellion. Anti heroes tend to rebel against the established norms and values. They don't conform, like Bartleby in 'Bartleby, the Scrivener' who rebels against the work system.

A third theme could be transformation. The villain may transform into a better version of themselves. In the case of 'Twilight', Edward tries to control his vampiric instincts because of his love for Bella. His 'villainous' side related to his blood - thirsty nature is subdued by his love for her, showing how the hero's love can bring about change in the villain.

One common theme could be change. Since 'by and by' implies the passage of time, stories might focus on how characters or situations change over time. For example, a character might start off naive and become wise as the story progresses.

Love is a very common theme. It can be romantic love, like in stories where two characters overcome obstacles to be together. Another common theme is friendship. Stories often show how friends support each other through difficult times. Also, the theme of death and loss is frequently explored, where characters deal with the pain of losing someone or something dear to them.