There are two types of heroes in literature - the folktale hero who is an ordinary person with no special powers, and the mythic hero who has a remarkable birth and superhuman strengths. Both types undertake a quest that is important and risky, which allows them to help others and transcend themselves. The archetypal hero's quest involves three stages - separation from their community to accept the quest, trials and tasks during the initiation stage to gain abilities, and a return/restoration stage where they complete the quest and receive recognition.
