The Real Heroes in Literature

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What images are associated with the words “hero”? A muscular Hercules saving the world from Hades? A knight in shining armor bravely riding into combat? Words like bravery, strength, pride, and self-sacrifice are commonly connected with a classic hero. But are those the only characteristics that make someone heroic? A dictionary definition of a hero is “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities”; however, this is a very elastic definition and there are many other types and definitions of heroes depending on circumstances. Is there one that is correct? Do all heroes share any common characteristics? According to Orin E. Klapp, a hero is “a person, real or imaginary, who evokes the appropriate attitudes and behavior” (135). Heroes can be determined by, and change due to and by societal norms, but at the same time retain certain traits or perform common actions. Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit, the legendary British thief Robin Hood, and Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter series all demonstrate that understanding who a hero is involves understanding the situation, his or her actions, as well as the society to which the hero is presented..
Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, is a clear example of an unconventional hero that has nevertheless been accepted as a hero in society. The Hobbit is a story set in the fictional land of Middle Earth, where there are not only human beings, but also mythical creatures such as dwarves, elves, wizards, and dragons. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit, who by instinct, is a creature where comfort and safety are the number one priority, but also has a curious and adventurous side. This side is brought out when the wizard Ganda...

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...e_ages/robin_01.shtml>.
Klapp, Orrin E. "The Creation of Popular Heroes." American Journal of Sociology 54.2
(1948): 135-41. JSTOR. Web. 1 May 2014. .
Lundqvist, Ann-Louise. "There and Back Again: the Hobbit Bilbo as a Hero." HÖGSKOLAN
FÖR LÄRANDE OCH KOMMUNIKATION. (2007): 1-19. Web. 1 May 2014. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:4652/FULLTEXT01.pdf>.
Ormond, Richard. "Daniel Maclise." The Burlington Magazine 110.789 (1968): 684-
93. JSTOR. Web. 1 May 2014. .

"'Robin Hood and His Merry Men Entertaining Richard the Lionheart in Sherwood Forest'"
Initial Teacher Education. The National Gallery, n.d. Web. 04 May 2014. http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/initial-teachereducation/primary/learning/maclise.aspx Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1991. Print.

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