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The nature of the Hero and Heroism in the Odyssey
The nature of the Hero and Heroism in the Odyssey
The nature of the Hero and Heroism in the Odyssey
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Bilbo Baggins, a True Hero
“I wish I could be a hero!” Many adults in today’s society hear small children wishing they could become heroes. Children wish to be more like heroes for the reason that heroes are the type of people who risk their lives to help others. Throughout history, children have had a positive connotation with the word “hero.” The heroes many small children talk about are the fictional ones who protect cities from villains: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and others. However, these are not the only types of heroes in today’s world. Firefighters and policemen are also considered heroes because they save the lives of those in danger. Many adults consider their inspirations to be heroes, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Michelle Obama. Heroes do not always have to be real; for instance, they can also be literary characters such as Atticus Finch, Jonas, and Odysseus. Heroes, fictional or not, only have one purpose, to help people in need. These motivating people are in the rare category of people who willingly spend their whole lives helping people achieve their dreams. Heroes are the people who unselfishly help people live their lives in a peaceful manner. Many children wish they could become heroes, such as Bilbo Baggins. In The Hobbit, J.R.R Tolkien explores how Bilbo Baggins matures and ultimately becomes a hero.
A hero, as stated before, selflessly thinks about others’ well beings before his or her own. Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit who was enlisted to help the dwarves retrieve Thorin’s family treasure, does the same thing when he decides to take matters into his own hands, and end the fight between Thorin, the lake men, and the woodelves. Bilbo decides to give the Arkenstone, a p...
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...s. Bilbo is the one that gives the precious Arkenstone to Bard to help stop a war from starting. If it was not for Bilbo’s courage, Thorin would still be fighting for the Arkenstone and might have also been hurt. Bilbo also helps the dwarves by being a good leader and helping them find a way out of Smaug’s lair. Without Bilbo, the dwarves would not have the audacity to try finding a way out of Smaug’s cave. Bilbo, like a real hero, always makes sure that he finishes the task he sets out to do. Without Bilbo, the dwarves would not be able to finish all the tasks that they want to finish. Bilbo is also the reason why the dwarves are still alive. Bilbo saves the dwarves from many different disasters. The disasters range from the spiders to Smaug. Through good or bad, Bilbo has been able to show the characteristics that a real hero should be able to show.
He went from being a reluctant hero to an epic hero just from a few slight changes. Bilbo was almost forced out the door to begin his journey with the dwarves by Gandalf. He did not want to go on the journey and certainly did not feel the need to be a hero, although he reluctantly ended up being one in the book. In the movie, on the other hand, he had many opportunities to become the hero and he took these opportunities, becoming an epic hero. While change can greatly impact some things, it can also take away from important pieces of the
George Washington. Aragorn. Beowulf. Captain America. Martin Luther. Han Solo. Wright Brothers. History, books, and movies are full of these types of characters. Whether they led our country to victory or saved a galaxy far far away, these people can be defined as heroes. A hero could be defined as someone who is cunning, shows justice and mercy, and has the courage to take on many challenges. In J. R. R. Tolkien’s renowned book The Hobbit, he fills the pages with many heroes. There is Thorin, King under the mountain, who has come to reclaim his home. There is Bard, a bowman, who kills the chiefest and greatest dragon Smaug. There are the mighty eagles, who rescue the dwarves, Bilbo, and Gandalf moments before their death. And there is also
“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself,” quoted by Joseph Campbell, a very famous American mythologist, writer, and lecturer. Campbell is correct when his definition of a hero, but there is more aspects to heroes we don’t know about. For instance, heroes make difficult decisions to help others and to make a positive change in people's’ lives. Sacrifice is an essential component to the development of heroes since they must sacrifice things such as comfort to be defined as a hero in the eyes of others. In order to become a hero, personal sacrifices are necessary because he or she pledges to put others before themselves. Also, heroes are the ones held accountable for everyone in a dire situation and have society’s expectations weighing on their back. Personal sacrifice can be seen with Bilbo Baggins, when he sacrifices his relationships with the dwarves to remain at peace with the Lakemen and wood elves. In addition,
In the course of this crisis the party gets split up and Bilbo gets left alone, leaving him to defend for himself. Bilbo at the time felt very uneasy wandering the forest alone, that is until he managed to kill a fearsome spider all by himself. This boosted Bilbo’s confidence greatly and he now had enough experience to be able to take leadership in following situations. Once he found the rest of the group he used his newly acquired skills to save them. Through all the commotion, Bilbo was finally able to prove to the dwarves that he was not as useless as they thought he was
The process of becoming a hero which Bilbo goes through begins with a simple knock on his door one morning. Soon Bilbo is recruited, unknowingly and unwillingly, as a burglar into Thorin’s expedition, by the mysterious wizard, Gandalf. Here at this moment, is Bilbo called to adventure. This is probably the only opportunity a hobbit such as Bilbo to go on such an expedition, but Bilbo is; at first, very reluctant, maybe even annoyed to have been recruited into Thorin’s group.
Helping others is an essential and main part of being a true hero. Even the smallest selfless act can make one a hero in another’s eyes. Heroes are discovered in every way possible, from pop culture to social interaction to the pages of a poem – just not this one.
First, Bilbo’s character develops in a heroic way multiple times within the novel. One example would be when the Elvenking says, “Bilbo Baggins … You are more worthy to wear the armour of elf-princes than many that have looked more comely at it” (Tolkien 248).
From the beginning of time, mythology has appeared to be one key method of understanding life’s confusions and battles. Within these myths lies a hero. From myth to myth and story to story, heroes experience what may be called a struggle or a journey, which lays down their plot line. Bearing tremendous strength, talent, and significant admiration, a hero holds what is precious to their audience, heroism. Over time however, no matter the hero, the hero’s role remains indistinguishable and identical to the position of every other hero.
In our world it is hard to find somebody who can truly be called a “hero”. This is probably because society portrays heroes as being like Superman and Batman. These comical heroes blur the perception that some people have of heroes. They think a hero is someone who can do anything and everything and have an otherworldly power. In reality, a hero can be anybody. To be considered a hero by Greek Mythology a hero needs to be favored by the Greek gods and usually fight in and win a war like Odysseus did against the Trojans. In both the epic tale Beowulf and in The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien, the protagonist’s and in the case of the Hobbit, the members of Thorin’s company have the ability and desire to save friends and others propels them to the status of hero.
...y a little fellow, Gandalf hints that even he was impressed by the large role Bilbo played in their journey, adding irony to the theme of heroism. Bilbo was the perfect character for Tolkien to express the theme of heroism because he was just the average, everyday character with a kind heart. He wasn’t some wizard or renowned warrior, but a hobbit, a simple hobbit who didn’t ask for heroism. Bilbo would much rather stay in the quite of his own home, but fate would have him do much more, even though Bilbo wouldn’t say so himself, he was indeed…a hero.
“There is a certain enthusiasm, in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” In order to be a hero, you have to be brave enough to face challenges and tough situations. Heroes don’t always have to be a boy with a cape and that’s really muscular or somebody who only saves people from bad guys, heros can be anything. Although they look like ordinary people, but they are fearless, strong and caring. They never quit or doubt themselves, if they fail a challenge they would try harder to succeed it. Even when the odds are against them, heroism means taking action, showing dedication to your quest and not giving up. For example, the movie Wreck-it Ralph the main character Ralph, the arcade-game
What makes a hero? The word hero does not have a concrete definition. It is more an opinion, but according to Merriam Webster a hero is someone who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities. Many would agree with that definition but add that a hero is also admired for good deeds that they have done for selfless reasons. Bilbo Baggins from the story “The Hobbit” by J. R. R. Tolkien has the qualities of a hero. In “The Hobbit” we are introduced to Bilbo, a peaceful hobbit living in his cozy hobbit hole. A mysterious wizard by the name of Gandalf comes to Bilbo with a job of sorts. Gandalf has pulled together a group of dwarves to take back the lonely mountain and its treasures from a dragon named Smaug. Bilbo at first declines but after some convincing from the group of dwarves his fathers nature in him convinces him to go. Obviously Bilbo displayed bravery in the novel however there are those who believe Bilbo is not a hero. He was a hero in the book because he preforms great acts, exemplifies fine qualities and acts selflessly.
A person can be a hero for saving the life of one or of millions. Heroes are not only real people, but they are also fantasy figures. Children are extremely interested with legendary and fantasy figures because they take on such tasks as: difficult journeys, challenges with dragons, discovering lost treasure, and changing the nature of the world through their singular acts of courage and selflessness. They also endure much resistance, hardship, and danger. Often the hero learns valuable lessons about survival and self-reliance. Not only do heroes teach valuable lessons they give a child a sense of belonging. To a child, a hero is an invincible person who will change the world.
After a huge battle of the Five Armies, the dwarves are finally able to reclaim their treasure and kingdom under the mountain, after the great dragon is slayed. Bilbo and Gandalf return to Bag End where Bilbo continues to live. Regardless that he is no longer accepted by the respectable hobbit society, Bilbo doesn’t mind. He had been on a life changing adventure. With the qualities of a hero, Baggins’ actions, and choices make it clear what he was. Although a hero is not always the Knight in Shining Armor who saves the damsel in distress, a hero can simply be someone who displays unique qualities such as bravery, sacrifice, compassion, and loyalty unfalteringly regardless of the consequences and circumstances. The little hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, was undoubtedly a hero.
So a hero is something that isn't hard to be, You’ve seen heroes are all among us they just go unnoticed. Heros do not brag about what they’ve done for people they go unnoticed and they are selfless. And heroes aren't worried about being rewarded, their reward is the fact that they saved someone's life and risked theirs for it. These are the traits of heroism, this is what you want to be to help, save people when they need it. Heroism is about not expecting a reward for their job it is about being selfless and going unnoticed for everything they’ve done as a