10 Deeply Unusual And Unconventional Literary Heroes

6. Forrest Gump

First Appearance: Forrest Gump by Winston Groom Another landmark pop-culture icon, Forrest Gump actually has his roots firmly placed in literature. He is the main character in Winston Groom's novel of the same name and the sequel, Gump & Co. However, the only similarities are that Forrest is slow-witted but has some amazing adventures. In the novel, Gump is considered "simple," yet what sets him apart from his movie counterpart is that Forrest is a good looking stud. He sleeps around and is known for his size. Because of his size, he was a football star and a professional wrestler. Those are two small feats in his amazing life. From there the adventures that Gump get in are literally out of his world. This includes him visiting space and then crashing on an island while being chased by pygmies. All this despite the fact that he has a limited I.Q. Forrest Gump is a hero because he shows that what you are lacking doesn't define you; it's what you do with what you have.