...Definition Essay 06 September 2012 Definition Essay The key principals of heroism are courage, selflessness and a lasting impact. To some people that can mean a person admired for their achievements, to others it could be a renowned warrior. A hero to me is someone who shows great courage and puts others before themself but expects nothing in return. It is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as a mythical or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability. Often heroes are portrayed as male figures in films and stories usually depicting warrior- like traits. Some dilute heroism when they attribute it to celebrities, giving them hero recognition when in reality they’re job is to entertain. Some illustrious political figures are also admired for their stature, sometimes being thought of as heroes. Many religions hold mere men as demigods or magnates. All of these fail the true definition of heroism in my eyes. Heroes can be described as someone who is able to resist fear. An individual who does a courageous act doesn’t necessarily have to affect society as a whole but can definitely change the lives of those involved. They’re putting themselves at risk, or using their resources purely to help someone else in need. These people may not get media attention, or be praised by hundreds of people, but they have certainly made a lasting impression on people’s lives. A hero, in Greek Mythology or folklore, was originally described as a demigod...
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...The definition of a hero to is anyone that has a lot of bravery to stand up not just for himself but, thinks less about himself and more about others. I don’t think that Scrooge from A Christmas Carol fits the definition of hero to me. Scrooge is a greedy, selfish, and unthankful man. Here are some of the reasons why I don’t think Scrooge meets up to the meaning of a hero. “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends” ~ J.K. Rowling. This quote explains most of what my definition of a hero is. It explains that a hero needs bravery to stick up not just for himself, but even more, bravery to stick up for others. Scrooge does show bravery but, mostly the bravery is only to himself. For example, when Scrooge put the candle top the first spirit because he didn’t want to see the past anymore. That shows Scrooge being brave only toward himself, but not toward others. The Man In The Water is a good example of why Scrooge is not a hero. For example, The Man In The Water was always polite and generous to the others that survived the plane crash. He would always pass on the lifeline and floating ring on to the next person. On the other hand, Scrooge will never do anything nice for...
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...“A person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities”: This is the dictionary definition of a hero. Although, one could take the stance that it is more apt to use a definition that could apply more easily to someone on a personal level, such as if what makes a person a hero could be simply a person having a positive and exemplary influence on another individual or group of people. This definition opens the descriptor to be used for people who do not fly around wearing capes or bearing guns, the typical image that latches to the mind when one is asked to think of a hero. It is thus far more welcoming to our intellectually astonishing scientists, many of whom history and modern day scientists would deem...
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...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...
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...My hero is my grandpa because; he is brave, thoughtful, helpful, wise, caring, and sentimental. He is the true definition of a hero in my opinion. He has guided me through life and has helped raise me. I am proud of everything he has done. That is why I call him my hero. He is brave because, he fought in WWII. While he served he worked the tanks. He was the guy to come in when they called him, drive the tank, and take out the enemy and leave. He was a big deal in the army. He is thoughtful because he loves to help people. If I or my two brothers, my family, his wife or his friends need his help he will help them in anyways possible. He is willing to help where ever he is needed. He volunteers at local places when they need help. He volunteers at a store right down the street sometimes when they are short staffed; he does it without pay because he likes helping people. He is VERY wise. He has directed me down the right path throughout my whole life. Even as a child I would sometimes ask him if what I’m doing or about to do was right or wrong. My grandpa is caring. When I was little my mom and did divorced, so, when my mom had to go to work he would take care of me until she got back to pick me and my brothers up to go home. He always loved spending time with us and still does! He is also sentimental. He received a lot of medals while he was in the Army. He passes them down through the family. Right now my dad has them and then he will pass them down to one of us and so on. ...
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...becomes the tragic hero of this story. Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero is “someone who is a noble soul, from high estates, and has a downfall in the result of his hamartia or tragic flaw” (Kennedy, & Gioia, 2007). Othello is easily persuaded with bad advice, that his wife is being unfaithful and is in love with another man. Othello being insecure, is crushed when he is fooled into believing that his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful. With anger and jealousy in his heart he finds himself causing a downfall in the result of his own tragic flaw. Desdemona continues to stay faithful to her husband even as her husband accuses her of being in love with another man. She is a sweet, kind and intelligent woman who is truly devoted to loving Othello. Heartbroken to find her husband has turned against her and plans to kill her, she tries to defend herself with the truth. She is unable to dismiss the lies told to her husband by the villainous Iago. Iago’s hate for the Moor stems from several different directions. He plays the main reason Othello has a tragic flaw. Fueled by his own jealousy, Iago has started a rumor about Othello’s wife and Cassio, Othello’s honorable lieutenant. Emilia is the wife of Iago and Desdemona’s maid. She is submissive to Iago, but builds a strong bond with Desdemona, which later in the play helps defend Desdemona’s reputation. Othello portrays a tragic hero in the play “Othello, the Moor of Venice” because of Aristotle’s definition of someone who is...
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...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....
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...and Celebrities April 27, 2014 Heroes and Celebrity When looking up the definition of hero, I came across some slight variation. I looked up online the Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s (n.d) definition an is defined a hero as “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability” and an” illustrious warrior, a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities, a man that shows great courage, the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work.” The online Oxford Dictionary (n.db) defines a hero as “A person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities: The chief male character in a book, play, or movie, who is typically identified with good qualities, and with whom the reader is expected to sympathize” Both sources cite the same definitions for heroines as well. The variations between the two online definitions is Merriam-Webster reefer’s to a hero as a mythological figure while Oxford simply refers to a hero as a person. When talking about a celebrity, some may confuse the definition of a celebrity with a hero, but the definition, according to Merriam-Webster is that a celebrity is the state of being famous or celebrated. This is not mention of outstanding achievements, quality of character, or displays of courage or is endowed with strength and abilities. Although the definitions don’t show the similarities, they do exist in our pop culture and the line between...
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...When most people think of a hero they think of someone with superpowers, like Batman or Superman. Others may think of someone courageous like a police officer or firefighter. This is because the most well known definition of the word hero is a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. There is, however, another definition of the word hero. This definition would be the chief male character in a book, play, or movie, who is typically identified with good qualities, and with whom the reader is expected to sympathize. By this second definition, Bubba is a hero. The author of the story immediately gives the reader a way to connect with Bubba by showing some of his good qualities. He has already won 11 matches in a row and after winning the upcoming match, Bubba is going to treat his wife, Kim, to a vacation. He loves her very much and says that she brings out the best in him. By the end of the story, the reader sympathizes with Bubba. The match didn’t go as well as everyone had hoped it would and Bubba lost. He and Kim can no longer do the things they had planned with the $50,000 check he would have won. The author says that at the end, Bubba would have fallen over like a storefront mannequin at the slightest push. Even after losing, Bubba says that he would like to continue boxing, that, "There's only on Alexis Arguello. But I feel I can box with any of the other guys." This shows that even though he...
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...Odysseus has everything he needs in order to take on the role of hero throughout his journey. In Odysseus’s personality, he possesses the ability to strategize. The protection and care that Odysseus gives to his men help in portraying him as a hero. Odysseus has a goal-oriented mindset, the work and effort he puts into achieving his goal shows the heroic side of him. The character traits worn by Odysseus’s personality make it easy to see the hero inside of him. Odysseus possesses character traits amongst a wide variety that make him a hero in Homer’s, The Odyssey. Having the ability to strategize in all aspects of life aids in the characterization of Odysseus as a hero; Odysseus clearly displays his abilities through his decisions over the...
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...Kayla Romine Mr. Kaplan English 12 P.4 25 October 2011 Heroes Essay “Hero” is one of the thousands of words a person is capable of looking up in the dictionary and the definition is not exactly described what it is stated as. Many Americans believe that the definition they are capable of getting out of the dictionary is the most correct and reliable definition. However, that is not the case because everyone in the world as their own definition of a hero. On the website of The My Hero Project by Ashley from Fredericksburg it is stated, “ When asked "What is a hero?," Christopher Reeve replied that he used to believe a hero was someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences. Now he believes that ‘A hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.’ ” A hero does not have a specific definition that could be set in stone for each individual to comprehend. As in the Iliad with Achilles and in the epic of Beowulf, both were heroes in different ways. Whether it be them being main characters or being a male. Beowulf's’ heroic strengths and weaknesses versus the strengths and weaknesses of Achilles’ will be further described. Although the characteristics between the two are widely different, they are both fueled by pride and glory. The only reason Achilles goes to Troy is to enhance his own glory. On the other hand, Beowulf is not as persistent, but the value of glory in his society implies...
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...More than a Cape When imagining a hero one may think of the stereotypical superman, batman, or occasional underdog. The vision of a hero can be exceptionally diverse in varying countries, cultures, and individuals. If you break down the definition of a hero the words courageous, gallant, and godlike are most likely predictable. But in Joel Skidmore’s, The Odyssey, Odysseus proves there are more qualities far greater than bravery needed to be a true hero. When reading Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, it is proven vastly Okonkwo does not contain love, respect, or patience for anyone. He makes himself incapable to show emotion due to the fear of weakness. Odysseus in comparison, loves wholeheartedly and without the fear of judgement. In fact...
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...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...
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...T. Kelley Professor Fox English II, 11 am Due: 30 Nov 2012 Heroes After more than 10 years of combat, the media has given many soldiers the title of hero. Jessica Lynch was one Soldier who was given the title hero. Was she truly a hero? What actions merited such a label? Pat Tillman also received the coveted title of hero, despite much controversy. Pat Tillman’s label of heroism occurred because of his strong social status. However, the word hero in Tillman’s case was misused to disguise actual events or cover up the misfortunes of war. Shoshona Johnson would be called a hero as well. Shoshana Johnson and Lynch were captured the same day but because of race, one hero would receive more accolades than the other. These soldiers wanted to share the truth, but media’s opportunity to transform them into hero took precedence. All of these heroes received differential treatment based on their gender, race or social status. Jessica Lynch seemed to be the perfect candidate to depict as an American Hero. Lynch is 5’6, 130 lbs. with blonde hair and blue eyes (Fluharty). With Barbie doll like qualities, Jessica not only served as an American Soldier, but possessed the beauty necessary to attract attention of viewers and develop a great story. The War on Terrorism has allowed news anchors to televise and participate in more combat related events than ever before, yet truth is often skewed to give a better news line story. The events that led to her capture in Iraq in 2003...
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...the term “hero” is spoken aloud, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Many imagine someone gallant, or rather, someone who possesses qualities such as integrity and rectitude. A few may even envision someone that has a greater purpose in this world, not just to live their own life, but to shield those that are deemed incapable. “Hero” originated from the ancient Greeks, and for them, a hero was a mere mortal that had done something magnificent and far beyond the relative norm of human experience. These “heroes” left an endless image in their place when they died, thus earning admiration, equal to that of a god. In this day and age, we use the word “hero” to describe various types of people that we deem fit for the title,...
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