Nov 22 2008
Is Your Hero a Chosen One?
A Chosen One is a hero that is passively chosen for greatness, like Eragon. Readers typically prefer characters that make their own destiny. This quiz will help you diagnose and fix the problem.
Our RSS Feed- 1990s SuperheroesIf you picked up a comic book, what would be some of the cues that would tip you off that it was written in the 1990s? If you were doing a parody of 1990s superheroes, what would your approach be? […]
- The Death and Return of SupermanThis is pretty brilliant, albeit not safe for work. […]
- Ani’s Review Forum“Hi there, I’m Ani, a newbie to posting but a long time reader, and I’d like some opinions. My newest idea is about a teenage girl named Jessie who has been working to defeat the forces of the supernatural since she was ten years old, when the ghost of her mother returned to help […]
- Using the Evil Overlord List to Write More Interesting Villains1. If a competent villain must make one of the huge villain mistakes on the Evil Overlord List, the villain should have a good reason to do so. Here are some examples: For example, generally, it’s a mistake to try capturing a hero rather than just killing him (because the hero will always escape). However, […]
- Hobbes’ Review ForumPlease see the comments below. […]
- Green Kid’s Review ForumGreen Kid says: “I’ve started work on a teen superhero novel about a boy who develops super powers after being exposed to a chemical dumped in the local lake by a large corporation conducting research on possible ways to create a superhuman. It’s very early in the process and I’ve barely written anything, but I’d […]
- Creative Ways to Use SupersensesI wouldn’t recommend giving your characters supersenses unless they develop a character and/or serve an important plot purpose. Otherwise, they’re probably wasted space. 1. You can use supersenses to develop an unusual point of view. For example, maybe a nonhuman is supernaturally talented at perceiving something highly relevant to his species and/or cul […]
- 1990s Superheroes
I have a character who is born from a high-ranking family, but in his case, this is a disadvantage for him, as it causes him to have pretty much no friends until he proves himself to others, and is kinda sheltered, so when he comes to his rank, he’s pretty darn clueless, and that leads him to some difficult problems where his rank won’t let him have any easy way out. In this situation, does the fact that he’s high-born make him that much of a Chosen One? It’s rather hard to make him from any other sort of family without screwing up the plot too much.
I assume this is in regard to the questions in the quiz….
I think that there are exceptions to every rule so being a chosen one isnt always 100% bad. Yes it can be cliche’ but if its done correctly, it should be fine.
I have 2″chosen one” style characters in my story and here is why…One of my non-chosen one characters can see the probability of actions and consequences in the future. He can calculate what will happen if one does A and B and C in sequence. He also can tell what people will become special if nudged into certain circumstances. Therefore anyone he finds who could become “super” is essentially a “Chosen One”
I think that your royal lineage is fine as long as you keep it in context of the story. There are other royals and upper class in your story which says to me that your character isnt THAT special. Also , there are consequences to his lineage which negatively affect his life. He sounds more like a “cursed one” than a “chosen one”.
What if you have a character that was born with the potential to be great, but has to dedicate his life to being that powerful.
my example is a character in a stroy im writing is a member of a specific group of people who can draw on the life energy of many different things (including people), but in order to use it effectively, they must be trained in specific meditations to call forth the energy, and have to deal with the excess power they use, or they could be killed when they use their abilities. i havent worked out all the details on the powers, but they differ based on the person. someone who is more agressive can make things like constructs and fire energy projectiles, as well as make themselves faster and stronger, limited by the amount of fatigue their bodies can take. On the opposite side, someone who is more of a pacifist would have abilities more in tune with them, like healing abilities, possibly increased intellect, and things along that line. for someone life my character, who is only willing to fight when he has too, his abilites would lie somewhere in the middle.
my character however, really dosent have a use for his powers, and after an accident that got several people killed, two of whom were his friends, he stops using them. because of this they degrade and become weak. where the rest of his tribe can feel the energies in other people, he cannot, and he cannot manifest the energy in him, so his powers are basicly no existant.
when he is forced into a conflict with another member of his tribe, my character has to fight without his powers, so the match is very one sided. eventually he is able to use the most basic of his ablities, but he is still overwhelmed by his opponent, and is almost killed.
while he recovers from his loss, the character knows that his assailant will be back to kill him, and has to re-learn all of his powers in order to survive another fight. therefore, though he was chosen at the begining, he has to work to get back everything that he has let go of and restore his powers.
I have a question on the prophecy question.
Why do you keep going on about the “great” prophecy?
All I’m saying is that can’t there be little prophecies or this-is-so-vague-anyone-can-fit-it prophecies? Granted the character I’m writing a story for, while not the “chosen one” is some what manipulated into almost being one due to the this-is-so-vague type. I’m not trying to justify any story that is the Mary Sue Prophecy Plot, but some stories have been able to turn the so-vague prophecy into a viable, or supposedly viable, plot point *cough*Harry Potter*cough*.
Harry Potter fails this test, btw, with a rating of 44.4% (Poor). I should be so lucky as to have my characters suck that much.
Luckily my characters are fairly pathetic and unpromising and fail repeatedly before showing any hints of greatness. So I guess I’m good.
What about an alien hero who has his natural birth-powers suppressed by his parents and gradually rewarded as he proves himself worthy in their eyes?
Hello, Madalias. First, I’d like to preface this by saying that tests like these are pretty crude. There are very few “rules” in the publishing industry that cannot be broken under any circumstances, and I offer pretty much all of my advice as guidelines that are hopefully helpful in most cases but could not predict the success or failure of every case.
…
Having said that, I think that Harry Potter “passes” the test. Some of the questions are a bit ambiguous with regards to Harry Potter, but when I applied the test to Harry Potter, I got 7/9 correct (Very Good).
#1–Is he born with unusual magical talent? Not really. Voldemort remarks at one point that he’s actually a pretty lackluster wizard. The only impressive spell he learns is the Patronus, with intense effort and many setbacks. Outside of that, the closest thing to an offensive spell he has is the disarming cantrip. In contrast, pretty much all of his adversaries (even the low-ranking ones) knock back deadly curses like they’re margarita shots on New Year’s Eve, particularly as the series progresses.
#2–He isn’t born to a high-ranking or royal family. (In contrast to, say, the Malfoys being preposterously wealthy).
#3–He is the subject of a great prophecy. This is the first of two wrong answers I found.
#4–Is he selected from an early age for his task? No, I don’t think so… He’s selected for Hogwarts at around age 10 or 11, which is the same age as everybody else. Also, it’s a major plot point that he learns about wizardry/magic much later than almost all of his peers. However, I think this question is a bit ambiguous because one could argue that the prophecy is a form of “selection” even though Harry doesn’t know about it until he’s much older. I’d lean towards “no” because the main problem with a character being actually selected is that he usually doesn’t have much of a say in picking his quest. Aside from Harry’s parents getting killed, which is out of his control, Harry is otherwise very much his own man, I think. He freely chooses to be a Gryffindor, he refuses Voldemort’s entreaties, and he pursues the fight against Voldemort even when authority figures (such as the Ministry of Magic) push him to stop.
#5–”Which of these would you say is more accurate? Like Eragon or Peter Parker, my hero is fortunate to receive incredible powers. OR: Like Wonderwoman or a Navy SEAL, my hero does something to win her powers and rank.” I’d say he’s more of a merit-based hero like Wonderwoman than a beneficiary of luck like Peter Parker. In the context of the story, Harry’s inborn abilities are pretty minor. He’s not a particularly talented wizard and, while he’s an ace on a broomstick, that doesn’t really have any bearing on the central plot (stopping Voldemort). Hermione and (especially) Voldemort/Tom Riddle strike me as characters that are born with incredible magical ability.
#6–”Does the character get defeated?” He fails to stop Voldemort from returning. He fails to stop Pettigrew from getting away. Also, he’s pretty rotten at keeping his friends and family alive. (In the Harry Potter universe, the most dangerous thing you can do is to introduce yourself to Harry Potter). At the very end of the series, he himself is sort of killed. Sort of.
#7–Yes, he faces situations where his preferred solutions don’t work. For example, at the end of the first book, to get to the Philosopher’s Stone* he has to overcome several puzzles well out of his range of talents (notably, the chess game and the potions logic game). Also, while he’s most comfortable working with Ron and Hermione, the potions puzzle forces him to go on alone.
*Or the Sorcerer’s Stone, in the U.S. edition.
#8–Yes, he’s sometimes let out of a tight spot by factors beyond his control (such as pulling out Gryffindor’s sword out of the Sorting Hat, the time-travel, Voldemort’s spell failing to kill him for real in book 7, etc). Along with #3, this is the only one that I marked “wrong” for Harry Potter.
#9–Is there resurrection in the story? Also ambiguous, but I don’t think so. The close call that comes to mind is Harry’s brush with death in the end of book 7. I don’t think he actually died. If so, then I don’t think he could have been resurrected.
“What about an alien hero who has his natural birth-powers suppressed by his parents and gradually rewarded as he proves himself worthy in their eyes?” I think it’s more interesting that he gradually unlocks the talents rather than is just born with them.
However, depending on your plot, it may feel contrived that the parents are withholding powers from the child. Especially if he’s doing something as important as (say) saving the world, why wouldn’t they give him everything so that he has the best chance at success? (Note: depending on the plot, the parents may reason that it’s more important for the kid to learn on his own, and earn everything that he has, than it is to succeed).
Hello, B. Mac.
If it was not clear from the lack of tone, my comments were meant to be tongue in cheek. I would dispute your generous scoring regarding JKR’s Harry Potter, but I’m afraid it would give the impression that I am disagreeing with you on the important points, when in fact I am not.
Regardless of the score on this quiz, I think it’s quite clear that J.K.R. manages to dodge the gag-worthy effects of using a Chosen One by upsetting expectations in key ways. I would argue that Harry is given unique gifts and chosen from an early age, but that doesn’t mean that he’s powerful or infallible. He has to work at his skills and win his place as a hero. Even when others do step in to save his arse, it’s because he’s earned their friendship and loyalty earlier. I’m quite happy to agree that JKR is not guilty of creating the kind of character you are warning us against even while I would insist that she is playing with the chosen one trope and our expectations for a mythic hero in the Joseph Campbell Monomyth sense. The fact that she uses characters referring to Harry as the Chosen One in a facetious manner kind of gives it away.
Anyway I hope that it’s clear enough that I’m agreeing with you on the important stuff, because I’m getting a kick out of this sight and the advice in general.
Yeah.. I got 33.33%
isnt that brilliant? Though admittedly my ‘Chosen One’ doesnt really become the ‘Chosen One’ until the very end, seeing as her powers and soul are suppressed and she is basically a machine, and its up to the other characters to save her, so she can save them. Cliche?
“Admittedly, my ‘Chosen One’ doesnt really become the ‘Chosen One’ until the very end, seeing as her powers and soul are suppressed and she is basically a machine, and it’s up to the other characters to save her, so she can save them. Cliche?” I don’t think I know enough about the plot to have an opinion yet.
opps…right sorry i’ve been going through everything in my head.. but i know i have to many characters. There is eight main characters (‘Chosen One’ and friends) and then the evil guy and his henchmen. Admitadly, the henchmen are extremely minor parts and they all get destroyed. The problem is that i cant think of a way to get rid of any.
Note: Please, i dont mean any offense to anyone who is religious, i just thought it would be a cool idea.
My main story line is based around the seven sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride) and the seven virtues (chasitity temperance charity diligence patience kindness humility). The ‘main character’ is called Virtue, and she is the living embodiment of ‘good’. She’s been kidnapped by evil dude, living embodiment of ‘evil’. That sounds soooo corny i know, but Virtue’s powers and soul are suppressed by evil dudes, but evil dude is having trouble destroying her so she can rule the world etc. He kidnaps seven teenagers. The seven’s personality revolves around one sin, and evil dude plans to use them to destroy Virtue. They manage to escape, and in their quest to escape the weird place (hell/underworld whichever term you prefer) they each must pass a ‘challenge’ which helps them to defeat their sin, which helps to ‘cure Virtue (at the beginning, she can’t talk, move without being led, or basically do anything useful). They eventually escape, however Virtue gets re-kidnapped and stabbed by evil due. Cue giant battle back in the seven’s home town, where Virtue ‘reappears’ and traps evil dude in a statue. She places herself in another statue, explaining that good and evil are twins, and if one is contained the other must be.
*takes deep breath* whew…. that need a LOT of work, i know, but that’s my unformed, basic idea that i may spend the next four years planning
Using personifications for the 7 Deadly Sins is a bit cliche. I’m pretty sure it happened in Fullmetal Alchemist and Doomtown/Deadlands, probably among others. That said, I think that’s a relatively small issue.
–Does Virtue have a personality besides being the living embodiment of good? Does she have any flaws? Does she make mistakes? Is there any way in which she’s NOT a Purity Sue? Is there anything interesting about her? If you answered no to any of these questions, I’d recommend checking out this article. If you answered no to every question, or were pretty close to no on all the questions, I’d recommend considering whether it would be more effective to reboot the character entirely and start from square one.
–8+ protagonists and 8+ villains strikes me as a huge cast. I would recommend cutting down to 5-6 total. One possibility would be axing the 7 Deadly Sin characters and just making the main villain the embodiment of all 7. (Then maybe you could bring back one of the characters as like a lieutenant or something). Another possibility would be cutting down 3-4 of the 7 Virtues. For example, charity and kindness could be merged, chastity and temperance could be merged, patience or diligence could probably be removed altogether, etc.
–Do these characters have personalities beyond their one defining trait? If not, their lack of depth could be problematic.
“at the beginning, she can’t talk, move without being led, or basically do anything useful…” Uhh… If she’s the main character, I’d recommend being careful about removing her ability to do interesting things. Also, I’m not sure about your gender and don’t want to know, but I think publishers are especially sensitive to useless/helpless female characters without personalities written by male authors. If you are male, that’s something to think about.
–If your goal is to be professionally published, I’d recommend proofreading more aggressively.
I got 88% for Seth.
Probably going to change in the second draft since I’ll have him choose to join the Core and use the serum, ‘stead of that happening to him by accident.
“Q.4) Is this character selected from an early age for his task? ”
Like idk I picked yes for that, even though he chose what he’s doing, the Core picked him ’cause they thought he had powers. xD
Either way, I’m not writing fantasy so there’s less chance of Chosen One stuff goin on.
Thanks
I know its slightly cliche but i was running out of ideas for stories, all my other ones trial off because it I have trouble writing the in between parts and it sounded interesting.
Virtue will be able to do ‘interesting things’ not to far into the book. I started a very basic first ‘chapter’ and it has Virtue how she is ‘normally’, fighting against evil dude, and it has her becoming a robot. So it does she she clearly isn’t helpless because she does hurt the villain. I’m not sure now whether she is actually the main character. She is more like the guide, after she ‘wakes up’. I’m not trying to be sexist or anything, and she will become extremely unhelpless later on and actually fight, and save the some lives etc etc. Once the other protagonists sort of realize they are slightly evil, it helps her. I’m trying for a bit of inner conflict in her, because she is ‘contained’ because she is with the other protagonists, but because she is good, she wants to help them, so she doesn’t really know what to do. She will gain her movement back first, and I’m playing with the idea of her leaving after she gains her movement back, but them arriving in the nick of time to save a characters life, and doing the hero thing, because she changed her mind and decided to help them get out. Or maybe she came back because she couldn’t get out herself so she might as well go with them. Or course she can’t explain this because she can’t talk… I’m not entirely sure, but she does need work.
I have sort of changed it around in my head, because Virtue did seem a bit two-dimensional. I thought maybe I might change her to being extreme justice, and not really having ‘mercy’ in her personality, which may make her seem a bit cruel at times. I also thought about the other characters, and your right, there is way to many. I’m doing what you suggested and axing the 7 Sin characters to just one. The lack of depth may also be a problem. They do have other traits, and there is ‘competition’ between them because vanity is popular, sloth and gluttony are unpopular, because vanity mocks them at school, so there will be depth and they will have ‘backgrounds’, that may become important. Of course, once they ‘defeat’ their sin they become ‘good’ (but they might not like each other still). So yes, they do need work and combining them might partially fix that.
I don’t think I will be professionally published in the near future but thanks again
I know you’re not being sexist. It’s solely a matter of writing an interesting character that is female, which could be especially tricky if you yourself are not female. I think this situation is fairly common, so I’ve written an article with some points about how to write interesting female characters.
“I might change her to being extreme justice, and not really having ‘mercy’ in her personality, which may make her seem a bit cruel at times.” That sounds promising. PS: A bit of mercilessness might not totally compromise her likability, I feel, especially if it fades a bit over time. (For example, maybe the other characters gradually convince her to be more merciful, and she gradually convinces them to become tougher).