This thesis looks at the portrayal of heroes in three novels by Robin McKinley-- Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast, The Outlaws of Sherwood, and The Hero and the Crown--each of which retells an already existing legend. In each case, McKinley strips away from the hero legendary characteristics that seem central to the traditional story. McKinley's Beauty is not particularly beautiful; her Robin Hood isn't much of a shot with the longbow; and Aerin Dragon-Killer (a legend of McKinley's own making) is despised because the dragons she kills are mere vermin. On the other hand, each of these three characters completes an archetypal hero journey consisting of departure, initiation, and return. By thus subverting legendary material while using archetypal patterns, McKinley undermines the need for special physical attributes and underlines the importance of moral choices. McKinley's heroes are not endowed with superhuman abilities, but they are honourable, active in making often difficult decisions, and concerned about others. In addition, Beauty and Aerin demonstrate that female heroes are capable of conscious choice and of going on the same sorts of journeys as male heroes. McKinley also shows an awareness of the power and purpose of legends. The legends told about these heroes, though greatly exaggerated, reflect their honour and good choices, and are thus able to inspire others and to create a sense of community among those who hear and tell the tales. At the same time, the heroes' lack of unrealistic legendary attributes makes them believable as well as archetypally resonant, lessening the distance between hero and audience and suggesting that everyone has the potential to be a hero.
Jenny Rebecca Rytting (Mon,) studied this question.