...A hero can’t exist without a villain and victim. But what defines the role of the hero is what others think of them and the actions they’ve taken. Consider heroes in pop-culture who are depicted saving civilians from otherworldly creatures and how we feel towards them. And then imagine how different you’d see it if you were to change point of view. What defines a true hero is action and perception, a hero is nothing without the people they inspire. Think of Odysseus and how he is illustrated as a hero for the entirety of The Odyssey. He was called a hero by those he fought alongside as well as the people he networked with in Ithaca. But to some others he was quite a villain, like Poseidon who felt hatred towards him for the slaying of his son Polyphemus(IX.584-597). While Odysseus was at sea (for three years) he was depicted as both the hero and...
Words: 394 - Pages: 2
...How’s your Hero? What is your definition of a hero? Someone you look up to? Someone that does heroic acts? Or just someone that is fictional? These are the questions to consider when trying to define a hero. People today have their own unique definition of a hero as we do not live in ancient times. In ancient times heroes were suppose to be of divine ancestries, who were endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for their bold exploits, and who were favored by the gods. According to Merriam-Webster today, a hero is a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities. Throughout history tall tales have been told of ancient heroes like Hercules, Beowulf, and Moses of how they helped their people overcome difficulties in their society. Although most of these ancient heroes are fictional, many may be regarded as great and heroic in literature. In the last 300 years or so there have been influential that have change the world or contributed to make the world a better place, and therefore earning the right to be called heroes in their society. Many tend to look up and define as a hero who they think are worthy of such a title. Parents may be consider as such as they always support and do their outmost to help their children succeed. This is the case in “The Train from Hate” were the mother consoles her son while teaching him a valuable lesson about after being kicked out of the train. Teachers, policemen, or even friends can be considered someone’s hero. In “from...
Words: 1016 - Pages: 5
...Joseph Campbell once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Risking one's life is only one of the many traits of the heroic code. Both Beowulf and American soldiers have put their life at risk to help protect the safety of others. The main character, Beowulf, from the story Beowulf has all of these. He is the ideal hero, and is very comparable to our American soldiers. These heroes possess bravery, honor, courage, and strength. One does not outshine the other because they both are performing incredible tasks and putting themselves in danger. The traits that define a hero have not changed since the time of Beowulf to today’s heroes. Beowulf seems to fit into every category of defining a hero. He is strong, loyal, courageous, honorable, generous and the list could go on. All of these traits help define an epic hero. He left his home to seek out danger and help save his neighbors from Grendel. He did this not because he had to, but because of his generosity. He prepared to fight a creature no one before was ever able to defeat. His courage when going out and facing extreme danger made him a hero to the Danes. He not only fought Grendel, but he also fought with the swamp hag and the dragon, and he won both battles....
Words: 612 - Pages: 3
...Immortalized in History: Defining a Hero Throughout eras, tales of accomplishment and triumph emerge. From Julius Caesar, to Abraham Lincoln, to Martin Luther King Jr, pioneers that take a stand for their ideals inspire generations that define them as heroic. One may ask,”What defines a hero?” Dictionary.com defines the word hero as: “a person who, in the opinion of others, has special achievements, abilities, or personal qualities and is regarded as a role model or ideal, or noted for courageous acts and nobility of character.” The great Bard Shakespeare created two of the most controversial heroes in literature in The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, and The Tragedy of Macbeth. These are controversial due to their modus operandi, as...
Words: 1178 - Pages: 5
...Dominic Bowen Beowulf Archetype Hero essay Within the tale of “Beowulf” four character traits can be found which define the Anglo Saxon Hero. The first is loyalty, as demonstrated by the relationship between Lord and thane. According to page 23 of the “Beowulf” introduction, “a relationship based less on subordination of one man’s will to another than on mutual trust and respect.” The second and third characteristics are strength and courage. The importance of these specific traits to the Anglo-Saxon people is clearly presented during the reciting of Sigemund’s tale within Heorot. As the song states, “He was adventurer most famous, far and wide through the nations, for deed of courage – he had prospered from that before, the protector of warriors – after the war-making of Heremod had come to an end, his strength and his courage” (38). The final piece which comprises the Anglo-Saxon hero is the notion of fame. The only afterlife a warrior could ever aspire to have was immortality through fame. One again this is explained by the introduction to the story, “Beowulf’s chief reward is pagan immortality the memory in the minds of later generations of a hero’s heroic actions” (24-25). By understanding what defines a hero it is a simple matter to comprehend why Beowulf is considered by some to be the greatest of all. He posses unfaltering loyalty to his king and allies, and save for his final battle his thanes show the same devotion to him. His strength is unparalleled, as he is...
Words: 1265 - Pages: 6
...Within the tale of “Beowulf” four character traits can be found which define the Anglo Saxon Hero. The first is loyalty, as demonstrated by the relationship between Lord and thane. According to page 23 of the “Beowulf” introduction, “a relationship based less on subordination of one man’s will to another than on mutual trust and respect.” The second and third characteristics are strength and courage. The importance of these specific traits to the Anglo-Saxon people is clearly presented during the reciting of Sigemund’s tale within Heorot. As the song states, “He was adventurer most famous, far and wide through the nations, for deed of courage – he had prospered from that before, the protector of warriors – after the war-making of Heremod had come to an end, his strength and his courage” (38). The final piece which comprises the Anglo-Saxon hero is the notion of fame. The only after life a warrior could ever aspire to have was immortality through fame. One again this is explained by the introduction to the story, “Beowulf’s chief reward is pagan immortality the memory in the minds of later generations of a hero’s heroic actions” (24-25). By understanding what defines a hero it is a simple matter to comprehend why Beowulf is considered by some to be the greatest of all. He posses unfaltering loyalty to his king and allies, and save for his final battle his thanes show the same devotion to him. His strength is unparalleled, as he is able to defeat each of his opponents and perform...
Words: 1258 - Pages: 6
...Nicholas Thompson’s article “Hero Inflation” he talks of the evolution of the word “Hero” and how it has been changed over history and he argues why he doesn’t think we should allow for being a victim to be a part of the qualification for being a hero along with being brave, noble and working towards a goal we approve of. Through his arguments he uses examples of logos to explain his reasoning in a logical progression. He begins this argument by describing the use of the word “Hero” during the 9/11 attacks when people first began to equate being a hero with being a victim as well. He states “The victims of the terrorist attacks deserve tremendous sympathy. They died tragically and often horrifically. But not all died in a way that people have...
Words: 337 - Pages: 2
...What defines a hero and what makes them heroic. Most of us think of the summer blockbuster hero who can save the world through unpractical means. This creates an unhealthy fantasy about the definition of a hero. A true hero is determined like Derek Redmond who never stopped training after his frequent injuries. Also the brave Lt. winters who fought behind enemy lines during the cold chilly winters of the battle field. The wise hero Odysseus who used every means to outsmart every situation he was presented. There are many heroic traits but I feel determination, bravery, and wisdom are a few important traits. For example the determination of Derek Redmond was demonstrated at an Olympic event. Redmond had multiple injuries before the race which resulted in him forfeiting other events. Despite the obstacles that he faced he trained as hard as he could to prepare for the 92’ Olympics, where Redmond tore a hamstring mid race and fell to the ground in agony. The Olympian wanted to finish this race making him avoid the stretcher and limped to the finish line in misery. Redmond’s father rushed towards his son telling Redmond that he needs to stop. Redmond refused but instead of his father abandoning him Derek's father joined him. Devastated by his injury he still continued to...
Words: 565 - Pages: 3
...“Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They’re just braver 5 minutes longer.” (Reagan online) A hero doesn’t have to be big, BOLD, or outgoing; they just have to be someone who focuses on others rather than him/herself. A hero is someone who willingly helps, saves, and/or rescues someone. A hero can be anyone to anybody. For example, to someone a hero, maybe a superhero such as batman or superman because they save cities and even the world while to others, a hero may even be a firefighter. Both of these examples define because they put others before them and they don’t accept recognition. A good example of how a hero functions is the firefighters during the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers. According to the New York Times article “The Firefighters had 29 minutes to get out of the World Trade Center or die.”(Dwyer, O’Donnell online). This shows that these hero’s, knowing they had 29 minutes to get out, still rescued several people and taking them to safety. They put others before themselves even in this terrifying situation. It takes a lot of will power to be a true hero....
Words: 524 - Pages: 3
...Whether they are thinking about other people or themselves, they realize this: a hero saves people. So now the question must be asked, "Did Dally die a Hero?". The answer is clear. Yes, Dally did die a hero; he helped win the rumble even though he was injured, he helped Johnny and Ponyboy when they were in a desperate time of need, and most of all, he saved Johnny out of a rumbling fire. Starting with the rumble, Dally fought even though he was in a critical state with broken bones and bruises everywhere. Yes, he was self-sacrificing when it came to fighting in the rumble and representing his loyal group, the Greasers. So when Dally decided to fight in the rumble, he was showing that his group meant more to him that healing in the hospital. This is very significant! If someone was truly a hoodlum or a corrupt person, they would not have this kind of big-hearted spirit that Dally had. This still is just one way that it is clear that Dally was a hero....
Words: 529 - Pages: 3
...In The Odyssey, an epic poem; the main character is Odysseus. In his adventures he shows that he is an astute, warm hearted and an agog hero. He has to make decisions that trouble him and his crew ,but the outcome is greater that losing all of his crue. Therefore he is a hero in trouble. Which means someone who has to make hard decisions and work very hard to save himself and the people and things around him. Odysseus proves he is an astute hero by a traitorous challenge of escaping the cyclops cave. Or being proving that he is agog by getting while passing thru the Sirens. Or warm hearted when he loses his men to Scylla. While Odysseus is on his voyage home he encounters the cyclops. One of the things that the gods expected from the people was that people should show courtesy to their visitors ; thus Odysseus and his crew except that the cyclops show them manners and great them. But the cyclops had another plan. He began by eating some of his men. Afterwards Odysseus offers the cyclops some wine to get on the good side of the cyclops, which was pretty ingenious. So the cyclops asked for Odysseus’s name and he said his name was Nobody so the cyclops he said he was going to save him for last. The he plotted a plan while the cyclops was drunk asleep and sheard his eye with a hot spear they made. They could not completely kill...
Words: 593 - Pages: 3
...Kitty Kelley once said “A hero is someone we can admire without apology.” People shouldn’t be ashamed for having an appreciation of their role models. Heroes are people who do things so extraordinary and inspirational that nobody should be embarrassed for taking an interest in them. Some people like their heroes because they fight for the greater good of others. For instance, a man named Frederick Douglass fought for the freedom of others. Furthermore, “this Douglass, this former slave, this Negro beaten to his knees, exiled, visioning a world where none is lonely, none hunted, alien…” (Hayden 70). Douglass struggled so others wouldn’t have to struggle like he did. A soldier is also an example of someone who’s a hero that fights for...
Words: 368 - Pages: 2
...Hero’s perform honorable, courageous and noble acts in order to help make the world a safer place for people like us to live.In the Olden day’s a hero was a person who performed remarkable and impossible act in order to help and save others. In today’s society hero is a person who others look up to and wants to become when they are older. However, overtime the definition of a hero has changed simultaneous with the values, morals, and challenges of humanity that now a day hero’s face in everyday life. The the story of Beowulf, Beowulf himself is thought to be the hero of the story. The pagan hero appears to have certain characteristics such as bravery, loyalty, and altruism, which portray him as a hero. It is interesting how most modern day heroes like soldiers in the Army show equal qualities as Beowulf....
Words: 521 - Pages: 3
...Fu 1 Nathan Fu Ms. Hallford English 9H Period #3 10--12 The Hero Within Everyone will make the step to become a hero from humble and simple beginnings. Of course, the move to become a hero is not easy and they will face many obstacles and trials that will test the strength of their friendship. However, the hero will develop traits that will shape and mold to to prepare them for their final test. Our hero will transition from the known world where he thinks he know who he is and descend down into the Nadir, the darkest and lowest point in their journey, where he will be tested both physically and mentally. That is the case for Bilbo Baggins, a shy and reluctant hobbit in J.R.R Tolkein's The Hobbit, who was protected from the perils and dangers of the real world in the comfort of his hobbit-hole. In his journey, Bilbo has to make many judgments that leave him torn between his loyalty to his friends and doing the right thing. But it is these obstacles that fully initializes him as a true hero. In the beginning of the story, Bilbo seemed like the most unlikely hero when Gandalf and thirteen dwarves came and asked for him to join them on the quest, but in the end, Bilbo faces many situations, challenges and develop traits like selflessness, courage ,and wisdom that is essential to all heroes and will ultimately determine and define who he is, and whether if he will succeed as a hero or not. A hero will rise when there is a call for a challenge and they could accept two choices: fight...
Words: 2195 - Pages: 9
...A Circumstantial Hero: An Analysis of Heroism The word hero commonly provokes the image of a superhuman in one’s mind. A power stance coupled with a cape beautifully flowing in the wind somehow makes up a hero who is bigger, stronger and overall greater than the average man. However, if one looks beyond this fictional description, he can find the more realistic qualities of an everyday hero. These real-life heroes tend to be people who are brave and courageous; they take action when action is needed for the greater good of their surrounding people. With this being said, it is ignorant to declare one singular definition of heroism as every person, community, culture, and generation can classify a hero in a very different way. The qualities and characteristics of a hero are entirely circumstantial, and therefore are forever in flux. One of the many heroes of American history is Rosa Parks, often referred to as “the first lady of civil rights.” Many know Parks as a hero due to her act of defiance in 1955....
Words: 1117 - Pages: 5
