A culture represents the behavior and beliefs that are characteristic of a certain society. Throughout time, cultures have defined themselves by the heroes they have chosen to glorify in song and verse. Usually on an embellished scale, the celebrated person epitomizes the social, moral, ethical, and even flawed characteristics of his surroundings. Different societies convey these cherished values through a variety of means. Two examples are the written traditions in Ancient Greece and Anglo-Saxon England, and the modern day media, all of which focus around a certain, glorious figure. The hero's exaggerated representation of what a society holds dear informs individuals of that culture about their way of life and their own cultural ideals, while reserving a place for their culture in the annals of history.

Even the oldest of classic epics fits this category. Relating a tale from the twelfth century B.C., Homer's The Odyssey recounts...