Throughout this semester we have analyzed many tales revolving around different “heroes” and their accomplishments. Our first “hero” was Ree Dolly in an independent film called Winter’s Bone, she had to find her father in order to keep the land her family lived on. The next hero was Chris McCandles from Into the Wild who was sick of living within the boundaries of normal life and wanted to go somewhere where he could truly live. Then, we had Juror #8 from 12 Angry Men who is put up to the task of persuading a jury to save a boy’s life. Lastly, we have Abdulrahman Zeitoun from Zeitoun who has to overcome the challenges of his ethnic background to be free.
When you think of a hero you probably think of a person who is greatly admired for their actions, which are normally seen as courageous. All of these characters may seem like “heroes” to themselves or the select few who have analyzed their actions, but that doesn’t make you a hero all by itself. True heroes take action on behalf of others, voluntarily, without concern for themselves or their well-being. When analyzing our four stories, there only seems to be one true hero, Ree Dolly. Her motivation, sacrifices, and challenges far exceed those of the other so called “heroes”.
Ree Dolly is teenager who has had to take of her mother and younger siblings ever since their dad left. A police offer comes by the house one day to find Ree’s father for his court date. If he doesn’t show, the house and land which Ree and her family live on will be taken by the government. Ree, now has about one week to find her father or her family will be ripped apart (Granik). Ree isn’t even a legal adult but she is having to overcome problems that she shouldn’t even be thinking about at this age. Her p...
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...to find the freedom he had longed for, he died, painfully and alone.
Ree couldn’t prepare for the task set before her, she had succeed in order to save her family, and her fears of what would happen if she failed were as real as her father’s hands she had to use to keep the land. Ree sacrificed everything in her quest and she was willing to sacrifice almost anything, by choice, if it would keep her family together. Ree helped herself and all those around her by showing everyone what is most important in life. Ree Dolly is the only hero because she goes above and beyond her duties. She may not be greatly regarded by many for her courageous actions, but that is because her complete story was only known to a select few. But she did take action on behalf of others, voluntarily, without concern for themselves or their well-being, making her a hero far above the others.
One well-known example of “The Hero’s Journey” from popular culture is the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling. In the novel, Harry Potter, the main character, is the chosen one and “The Hero’s Journey” applies to his life from the moment he is attacked by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as a baby. Joseph Campbell calls the initial phase of a hero’s development the “Call to Adventure.” The call is the in... ...
Humanity has created this “universal story” of what a hero is, or at least the myth of it, time and again. Different tasks and encounters with a variety of villains all lead the hero to the prize, to a new life (Seger). This person deemed the hero is as ordinary as the next but what makes them different is the drastic test that they must face. Individuals admire this character because the hero stands for something, something bigger than themselves. Whether it be the compassionate act of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games or the death of the oldest brother in Brother Bear, as an outsider, an individual sees the human side of these heroes and relates. Connor Lassiter from Unwind by Neal Shusterman is an ideal example of the myth due to the
The human need to be relatable is unquenchable. We love to be able to see parts of ourselves in others, and to be able to feel like our idols are not untouchable. The Hero’s Journey format is one that can be found in almost any story, even in real life. Overall, it is the perfect recipe for keeping readers engrossed. Another place the journey has shown up is in Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and Odyssey by Homer. These two stories—one a biography, the other, an epic poem—are so effective in their storytelling, it is easy to see how authors today continue to use the same method to make stories that grab the readers’ attention. What makes them most alike, however, is the emotions and thoughts they have the power to provoke.
Heroes can be anyone who set there mind to it. One woman can be a heroine to all the
Heroes. Everyone wants to be a hero, but sometimes, people lose sight of what a true hero really is. It does not have to be someone who flies around and saves innocent people from perilous monsters. A hero is simply someone that inspires others. In Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Junior was a hero because he rose above the expectations the world placed on him through his courage, passionate determination, and sympathetic perception.
Through reading about these heroes, kids believe that there are good things that happen to good people. These heroes encourage many kids when they’re young, and provide them with right and wrong. For example, many fairy tales and comic stories show kids the kinds of behaviors that need in order to succeed in life, to improve society, and to overcome hard times. They become their example of healthy adult role models who through hard times and many contractions they were able to react positively and overcome hard times. Heroes prove to them that no matter how much suffering and hardships in the world, there are good people, who always do the right thing and provide us with hope in hard times. Heroes do provide courage for us to overcome emotionally, physically, or spiritually
What is a hero? For many, a firefighter, police officer, or superhuman may come to mind. According to Robert F. Kennedy, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or the lot of others, or strikes out an injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.” Clara Barton, a civil war nurse and the founder of the American Red Cross, is the epitome of a hero, as her heroic acts, courage and care during the Civil War serve as an inspiration for others in today’s dark times.
Hero is a word that is commonplace in our society. We seem to always be able to turn on the latest news story and find the newest local man who saved that beautiful kitten from that building that was burning down. When we say hero a vast array of different definitions come to people’s minds. Our definition of hero in our world is most definitely not a constant. In the Epic of Gilgamesh and the novel Monkey many would consider the main characters and their strongest companions nothing close to heroes but rather tyrants. I have to say that these people have defined hero too narrowly, and I must prove them of their folly. Monkey and Gilgamesh, despite the many sins they commit, highlight what it truly means to be a hero, reminding us to always aspire to greatness.
the adventures of a hero. The hero is usually a figure of high social status
People are heroes in different ways for different reasons. American soldiers are heroes because they fight boldly for their country. Corrie Ten Boom is also a hero because she took risks and saved hundreds of Jews. Abraham Lincoln is another example of a hero because he fought for what he thought was right and helped free all slaves. Similarly, Odysseus, the main character in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, possesses all of these characteristics and many more, making him a true epic hero.
The word "hero" is so often used to describe people who overcome great difficulties and rise to the challenge that is set before them without even considering the overwhelming odds they are up against. In our culture, heroes are glorified in literature and in the media in various shapes and forms. However, I believe that many of the greatest heroes in our society never receive the credit that they deserve, much less fame or publicity. I believe that a hero is simply someone who stands up for what he/she believes in. A person does not have to rush into a burning building and save someone's life to be a hero. Someone who is a true friend can be a hero. A hero is someone who makes a difference in the lives of others simply by his/her presence. In Tim O'Brien's novel, The Things They Carried, the true heroes stand out in my mind as those who were true friends and fought for what they believed in. These men and women faced the atrocities of war on a daily basis, as explained by critic David R. Jarraway's essay, "'Excremental Assault' in Tim O'Brien: Trauma and Recovery in Vietnam War Literature" and by Vietnam Veteran Jim Carter. Yet these characters became heroes not by going to drastic measures to do something that would draw attention to themselves, but by being true to their own beliefs and by making a difference to the people around them.
Who is your hero? Many of us can clearly picture our idea of our personal hero in our head, but is the person you consider to be a hero really a hero by definition? In Heroism: Why Heroes are Important, Scott LaBarge, a Classics and Philosophy Professor at Santa Clara University, awakens your thoughts on the word heroism and how it has changed since its origins in ancient Greece. Throughout his essay, he goes in depth into the term ‘hero’ and compares it to society’s take on heroes today. Although LaBarge uses examples to back up his stance that “Today, it is much harder to detach the concept of heroism from morality (LaBarge. 1),” his essay contains flaws and he contradicts his own words.
“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with [their] freedom” (Dylan). However, though heroes face complications throughout their quest, in the end they often accomplish an important rask. In the book, Like Water for Chocolate, the main character, Tita shows a perfect example of a hero. Tita is in a continuous emotional quest throughout the entire story, but proves along the way she is indeed one who will not fail. Many characteristics of a hero certainly fit Tita’s character, however, there are some very important ones, she: suffers an unusual childbirth, yields a special weapon, goes through a traumatic event that leads to an adventure, has supernatural help, experiences atonement with mother, and when she dies she is rewarded spiritually.
Wilhelm, Jeffrey D., et al. A Brief History of Heroes. 2004. Glencoe Literature. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2009. 69-72. Print.
There is another type of hero that almost no one is aware of. In the poorest areas of the country, live mostly minorities and other ethic background. All their lives they’ve been expected to work harder and expected not succeed in life. Some individuals living in poverty with a determination to succeed work hard all of their lives to become what everybody doubted they could. Escaping the crime, drugs, and prostitution is enough to escape hell, even if they don’t go to college. Despite of their financial problems, drug and crime surroundings, or difficulties in the language skills, their desire to triumph fuels their persistence. Those who make it to success are the few living examples of the purest form of hero anyone can be. They are not only their own heroes but also the heroes of the poor children who dream of becoming like them someday.