Ms. Fischer
AP Literature
18 September 2013
Heroes
In everyday life there may be someone that you may look up to or consider a hero. In most stories you read about epic heroes and all the challenges they face. We often consider them as something that we want to become. A real hero is someone who faces everyday challenges bravely and lives a smile despite problems and shortcomings. A hero is someone who has bravery, confidence, determination, dedication, endurance, perseverance, valor, selflessness, sacrifice, and humility. Firefighters, policemen, lifeguards, soldiers, doctors or even more simple man who risk their lives every day to help us with their courage and valor are true heroes. Soldiers fight wars on the boarders to keep the civilians safe. Firefighters and policemen fight against criminals and control deadly situations by risking their lives. Ordinary men and women who fight incurable diseases like cancer, AIDS, mental and physical disabilities are also heroes because they have the strength to face life with a strong approach. Liberty Amdahl is an example of a hero. Liberty fought against cancer and faced life with a strong approach. She kept a smile on her face and had a positive attitude even if she was in pain. Even though she didn’t make it she is a hero in everybody’s eyes. She made a huge impact to everyone in Flandreau and everybody that knew her. Liberty is a hero. An epic hero also projects an image of a real life hero. An epic hero excels in skill, strength, and courage. He succeeds in war and adventure. He values honor and glory and usually have a guide. He could battle demons or monsters. An epic hero is generous to his followers but ruthless to enemies. He is a man of action, accepts challenges and sometimes invites problems. He might sometimes makes rash decisions and takes unnecessary risks. He may meets monsters and temptations or encounters women who tempt him. An epic hero descends into darkness which is often the underworld, and achieves his goals.
Beowulf is an example of an epic hero. He is pictured as a warrior who fights for his country but has a simple life. He has to undertake a long journey filled with challenges in his way and has to fight various battles to accomplish his goal. He always takes up distinctive tasks which no one else ever dares to. He comes across Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon that he fights with his endurance and valor and eventually reaches his destiny with a confident heart. He has qualities such has courage, honesty, and willingness to sacrifice.
A monster
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Epic and modern heroes have many similarities and differences. Their personalities, characteristics, and physical abilities vary. These similarities and differences make heroes unique and memorable for years to come.…
- 372 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Epic Hero- A main character in an epic whose legendary or heroic actions are central to his/her culture, race, or nation. Every character involved in the story has their own personality and traits, some of these traits are shared, and some of them are not. Gilgamesh, Beowulf, Hector, and Achilles are characters that are very self-confident, courageous, and skillful, or the opposite!…
- 852 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
The qualities that make an epic hero are strength, courage a strong mentality, and the aspiration to achieve heroic acts. Many heroes are considered role models as they make brave decisions attempting to do something extraordinary. Heroes often fight against the causes of evil as they try to make the environment a better place. Hercules (son of Zeus) is one of the many known Gods to Greek mythology. He is supernatural and immortal. The hero has extraordinary strength, being the strongest man on earth he is sometimes he is unaware of the power he posses, Hercules is invulnerable. Although worshiped as a God, he was properly a hero.…
- 375 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Summary: The ideal king in the Anglo-Saxon culture first gains power and wealth through successful wars, and then gains loyalty through friendships and generous gift giving. King Sheafson described in the first part of Beowulf exhibited courage, greatness, power and wealth - all attributes important to the popularity of kings.The ideal king in the Anglo-Saxon culture first gains power and wealth through successful wars, and then gains loyalty through friendships and generous gift giving. King Sheafson described in the first part of Beowulf exhibited courage, greatness, power and wealth - all attributes important to the popularity of kings. He was a, "a wrecker of mead-benches." (1.5). Then, realized that loyalty is best attained through fairness and friendship (1.24-25). King Sheafson first proves himself through success at war and after gains popularity & loyalty through friendship and gifts. King Hrothgar was not always a gentle lord. He may seem measly because he does not fight the monster. Look closely when Hrothgar says, "I was then in the first flush of kinship, establishing my sway over the rich strongholds of this heroic land (3.465-66)." King Hrothgar first by conquered in war, resulting in the acquirement of money and goods. Then, as he aged, he became a "treasure giver" (4.607), giving "gifts to others" (6.950). He also developed loyalty through friendships, especially felt at the teary & sentimental goodbye when Beowulf left. King Hrothgar follows the ideal set forth in King Sheafson in that he was successful at war and then gained loyalty through friendships & gifts.Beowulf also exhibits the ideal king because he first is powerful and then (eventually) honorably attains kingship. We witness in detail the phases of kingship with Beowulf. During the first phase of the poem, he is proving himself. He describes stories where he wards off sea monsters and he selflessly fights the two monsters for King Hrothgar.…
- 862 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Everyone has someone they consider a hero. Heroes can be anyone with astounding courage and strength. Individuals who choose to risk their own life to increase the happiness and fairness in others’ lives are heroes. A hero is someone who is daring, cunning, and humble. Theodore Roosevelt was heroic because he was an astonishing war hero and an extraordinary president.…
- 462 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Hero 's come in many forms, a hero can be someone we look up to (father, mother, teacher). They can be a unique character passed down for thousands of years such as Odysseus, in The Odyssey. They can be someone we 've never interacted with or someone by our side every day. They might be brave, courageous, truthful or dishonest. A hero could be male or female, black or white. A hero may be someone that simply affected a life in a positive way. One thing hero 's all have in common is that they provide drive and purpose for those the believe in them, they help some focus on dreams and they might provide a path when no path exists. In this paper will be defining a hero and the qualities an epic hero has with my definition. I will be using epic hero 's in, The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey to help shape my explanation.…
- 1640 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Joseph Campbells idea of the monomyth and the hero is that there is stages of a heros journey. He states in Hero with a Thousand Faces, "A hero ventures forth from the world common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man" (Campbell 30). The three stages of the monomyth are separation, initiation, and return. These stages can be applied to the heroic myth, Beowulf. It is known for adventure and fits Joseph Campbells description of a hero's journey.…
- 257 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
How do you define a hero? Some may define a hero as someone with courage and bravery, someone who knows how to fight monsters and win historic battles, remain loyal to himself and or his or her men, or someone who has intelligence to overthrow an evil kingdom and make everything “right”. My definition of an epic hero is someone who can overcome passed mistakes and struggle to become a better person internally, while leading, staying loyal and sacrificing what needs to be sacrificed for the sake of his or her people.…
- 584 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
What do you think of when you see the word "hero?" A person who possesses great skill and courage, no doubt; one who uses those attributes to aid others in ways large or small, but what about Beowulf? While he may not spring to mind, Beowulf perfectly emphasizes heroic qualities-those of an epic hero. In the Anglo-Saxon folk epic Beowulf, he uses strength, skill, and a little help from the gods to defeat a series of deadly and monstrous foes. Beowulf's honor, courage, and prowess in battle mark him as one of literature's great epic heroes.…
- 785 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Throughout history the majority of humans have always suffered through a lack of self worth, and they search to fill this emptiness through the security of a strong, confident, and fearless hero to whom they can call upon for support in times of need. Beowulf was that hero in both the Epic poem Beowulf and the novel Grendel. Although the novel Grendel and the epic poem Beowulf tell the same basic story, Beowulf is a much better piece of literary work.…
- 584 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Beowulf exemplifies the traits of the perfect hero. The poem explores his heroism in two separate phases and through three separate and increasingly difficult conflicts with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Although we can view these three encounters as expressions of the heroic code, there is perhaps a clearer division between Beowulf’s youthful heroism as an unfettered warrior and his mature heroism as a reliable king. These two phases of his life, separated by fifty years, correspond to two different models of virtue, and much of the moral reflection in the story centers on differentiating these two models and on showing how Beowulf makes the transition from one to the other.…
- 318 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
A hero can be real or fictional but either way a hero goes through the same stages and has choices to make to help others at whatever cost. Someone may not seem like they could be a hero but by doing what they can, could help make a huge difference in someone’s life. Being a hero is not always what movies and comic books make it out to be; a hero can be a regular person being generous. Making the right choices and decisions is what helps shape a person to be a hero; they don’t become one just for the fame.…
- 1280 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Epic Hero- (n.) a brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements. Odysseus and Spiderman both fit this description. The characteristics they displayed in their daily lives make them deserving of this title. In the novel The Odyssey by Homer, the main character Odysseus must learn how to take special gifts given to him by a goddess and use them to keep him alive. By comparison, in the screenplay Spiderman by David Koepp, the main character Spiderman deals with the same problem. He must learn to use the powers given to him by fate and at the same time, save the world. Whenever the word Epic Hero is said, many times the characters, Odysseus and Spiderman follow. Those who want be recognized as an epic hero, must possess the specific attributes that make up these great men.…
- 830 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
A hero is someone who is courageous and sd a hero to make it saves other’s life. Many people can think a celebrity, a soldier, or just someone who helps others is a hero. If someone is being harassed they would need a hero to make it stop. A hero can be a police officer who gets a criminal, or it can be a firefighter who gallantly gets a kitten out of a tree. Some people have their own definitions of a hero.…
- 358 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
The most compelling reason for the hero is the self interpretation of the stories and myths is the human inability to view the world from any perspective but a personal one. The almost universal notion of the hero or protagonist and its resulting hero identification allow us to experience stories in the only way we know how. One potential drawback of the necessity of hero identification means that a hero is often more a combination of symbols than a representation of an actual person. In order to appeal to a wide range of individuals, the author relegates the hero to a type of person which everyone already is or wishes themselves to be. In regard to the observer’s personal interaction with the story, it can give the feeling of being involved. (“The voyage of a hero.”).…
- 1028 Words
- 3 Pages
Better Essays