Every book needs a hero. We’ve named our top 20 heroes and heroines from literature. From the sleuthing Nancy Drew to the unlikely hero in The Little Prince, there’s a long list of both well-known and atypical heroes and heroines. Who made your list? Tell us in the comments below!
1) Matilda Wormwood from Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda is one of our favorite heroines because she embodies all of us with her passion for books. Plus—she has powers that are pretty awesome.
Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
The smartest witch around, Hermione Granger is constantly saving the day and is a wonderful female role model.
Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Elizabeth chooses her heart over societal norms and can always be caught enjoying a good book—giving her a spot on our heroine list.
Celie from The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Celie becomes a strong woman after being abused and oppressed throughout The Color Purple. Her new independence inspires us.
Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Another resilient young woman, Jane Eyre values her freedom and independence and has an extremely strong conscious.
Nancy Drew from the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene
Nancy Drew is a young, fearless detective who is always smartly solving crimes and is the hero of her town.
Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
This fierce heroine is a computer hacker who defies gender norms and is truly unique.
Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Alice is an adventurer and explorer that reminds us all what it’s like to have such an imagination.
Jo March from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The strong-willed main character of Little Women follows her dream of being a writer and defies stereotypes—often being described as an “early feminist”.
Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss is a strong young woman who is truly a “hero” when she wins The Hunger Games. Her strength and endurance after all she’s been through makes her quite exceptional.
Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Atticus Finch defends a black man in segregated Alabama—making him an extraordinary figure in literature and a true hero.
Gandalf from Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The great and wise Gandalf is a powerful wizard who led the final War of the Ring and is a great hero throughout the series.
James Bond from the James Bond Series by Ian Fleming
Secret Service agent 007 has served for many years as the well-known spy who is always a hero.
Guy Montag from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Guy Montag is a firefighter in a futuristic town where they burn books. Questioning the “anti-intellectual” society around him lands him a spot on our list!
Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Sydney Carton gives up his life to save that of the husband of the woman he loves. What could be more heroic?
Winston Smith from 1984 by George Orwell
Smith is an “everyman” in a society without individual thought. Although his ending is less than satisfactory, he tried his hardest to remain defiant and therefore loyal to individual thought—making him a hero in our eyes.
“Invisible Man” from Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The nameless narrator is a powerful speaker in his attempt to fuel the black movement in Harlem. Although people may try to sway him in one way or another, he remembers it’s important to stay true to his own identity.
The Prince from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The Little Prince is so full of wonder and life that we often forget he is just a young boy. He is a hero and saves the narrator, who has crashed his plane in the Sahara desert.
Odysseus from The Odyssey by Homer
The definition of an epic hero, it took him 10 years to get home after the Trojan War and he has been celebrated for his intelligence and cunning.
Robin Hood from Robin Hood (English folklore)
The bandit’s motto of stealing from the rich to give to the poor might not be ethically sound, but his intentions are good and he’s still a hero.