A swashbuckler is a heroic archetype in European adventure literature that is typified by the use of a sword and chivalric ideals. A 'swashbuckler' is generally a protagonist who is heroic and idealistic and who rescues damsels in distress. Swashbucklers as an archetype are not pirates. His opponent is typically characterized as the dastardly villain. There is a long list of swashbucklers who combine outstanding courage, sword fighting skill, resourcefulness, and a distinctive sense of honor and justice, as for example Cyrano de Bergerac, The Three Musketeers, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Robin HoodA swashbuckler is a heroic archetype in European adventure literature that is typified by the use of a sword and chivalric ideals. A 'swashbuckler' is generally a protagonist who is heroic and idealistic and who rescues damsels in distress. Swashbucklers as an archetype are not pirates. His opponent is typically characterized as the dastardly villain. There is a long list of swashbucklers who combine outstanding courage, sword fighting skill, resourcefulness, and a distinctive sense of honor and justice, as for example Cyrano de Bergerac, The Three Musketeers, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Robin Hood, and Zorro.
The hero's activities are primarily chivalaric: rescuing fair maidens, saving the king, or defending the peasants from oppression. Even seventeenth and eighteenth century highwayman and pirate heroes were made to conform to this stereotype. ...more
