Based on the theoretical literary hypothesis abut three typological forms of an epic hero the author of the paper proposes an analysis of the poetics of the war story by Vasil’ Bykov «The Obelisk». He determines the features of the artistic model created in the framework of the work under consideration as well as the peculiarity of its narrative structure. Particular emphasis is placed on the methods of arranging an epic situation, a conflict and a system of characters. De-spite the fact that the author’s strategy is determined as an integrated one, i.e. oriented simultane-ously at «legend», «story» and «tale», the second position is a dominating one. Thus, the image of the real hero is formed on the basis of a story, i.e. of a great variety of ways of narration about him.