(no subject)

I have a question for you fantasy readers out there... who started the tradition that the hero of a fantasy quest adventure has to begin by having his home razed and/or burned and all his family killed? It wasn't Tolkien, who started quite a few fantasy traditions.

I ask because I've seen two movies and started a series recently that all began their hero's quest in that way (Eragon, Pathfinder, and The Legend of the Seeker). It's getting irritating. I mean, does a hero need to have no place else to go before he'll move his ass out on his quest?