Over the course of time, there have been many distinct heroes with significant characteristics. A hero can be viewed and described many different ways depending on the person. They may be courageous, intelligent, kind, tough, or even troublesome. However, the more common ‘hero’ is revered to be physically brave and intellectually smart. Although one may be intellectually smart, that is not truthfully what makes them a hero. A hero is someone who sacrifices themselves for the benefit of others and is courageous and brave.
Generally, when a person thinks of a hero, they come across someone like Batman or Superman. These heroes have artificial powers and are not true heroes. A true hero is someone who will sacrifice their body or something possessed
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by them for the aid of others. These people will put their body on the line. They will not stop until the right thing is done for others. Nearly every single hero shares the common characteristics, courage and bravery. People prefer seeing heroes that do things physically. For example, instead of intelligently thinking of a way to retrieve a cat down from a tree, like using branches or poles, the common folk love seeing people climb up the tree courageously. This has been the popular way of thinking throughout centuries. The vast majority of people prefer seeing bravery firsthand in front of them. In many common films or movies, the person who puts themselves and their body on the line to save something or someone else is revered to be a hero. He or she willingly sacrifices themselves for another being. People severely love these heroic acts and consider the people who committed them to be heroes. Along with sacrifices comes two similar traits that are very heroic, courage and bravery. Bravery and courage have been two very common traits that come to mind when you think of a hero.
In the book The Odyssey, the main character, Odysseus, and his shipmates show many acts of courage and bravery. They come across many foes and villains attempting to stop them from returning to Ithaca. However, the brave Odysseus is not defeated and continues his trek back to his homeland. Along his journey, he encounters two massive threats to him and his shipmates, a gigantic whirlpool, Charybdis, and the six-headed monster, Scylla. Instead of being a coward and sailing back to Circe’s island, Odysseus and his brave men sail past the monsters. In a book like the Odyssey, Odysseus is viewed as a hero. He is not only willing to sacrifice himself or his men for the greater of the group, but is also remarkably brave and courageous. In addition to Odysseus, there are many real life human beings who do not have to withstand the same events the great Odysseus faced that are also heroes. These heroes include firefighters, policemen, doctors, and many more. Theses jobs are all very intense and stressful. In these professions, some people may experience very harsh situations. These situations may include having to run into a fire to save a baby, face criminals, or even have to perform surgery on a dying patient. All of these experiences require great amounts of bravery and courage. They all endure many hardships that require one to be very brave and
courageous. In conclusion, a hero has many strong characteristics such as being intellectually smart and physically brave. Although both of these traits are important, being physically brave is more important. This is because it shows the person has confidence and is willing to sacrifice what they have for the benefit of other beings or people. Heroes may be smart, but the main characteristic that most heroes share is the attribute of bravery.
Courage and bravery are two things that Odysseus has a lot of. This is evident when he defies the god Poseidon, telling him that he is unstoppable. Odysseus then gets back on his ship on starts to sail on Poseidon's waters back to Ithaca. Pride is good to have, but in Odysseus’s case, it’s a little too much. On the other hand, he does things that make him a great hero. When Circeturned his crew into animals, he climbed straight up a mountain, risking his life just to save his crew. He will do anything to get back to Ithaca and see his wife and son, no matter how crazy it is. He even goes into the underworld to speak to a prophet about how to get back to Ithaca. Being brave and courageous is all about being willing and able to go to the extremes to help or possibly save people or even a place in need.
In perspective one the dilemma is how versatile of a hero Odysseus really is. "In the Odyssey, we learn that Odysseus won the childhood scar that marks his thigh when, as a boy, he killed a ravaging boar" (Od. 19.392–468). This quote shows how bravery was shown at his younger age. It also is a very strong reason to believe that Odysseus will become a hero. Later in his life Odysseus was known for his way with words. "Though tempted by death during his years of wandering consistently tries to choose restraint and endurance" (Od. 10.49–55). This quote shows how mentally strong he was. In other tales of heroes there is many things that cause them to lose hope but they eventually gain it back. In the tale of Odysseus there is never a real point that Odysseus was mentally broke other then when he sees his mother in the land of the dead. After this part in the
A hero is considered to be any man noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose;
Recently, students of Olympian High School have stumbled upon the question, "What is a hero?" In the school's 2013 Young Minds Essay Contest, students are expected to consider universal concerns and ideas. Many times when people think of a hero, they think of Superman, Batman, and many other Marvel characters who display unattainable superpowers. However, heroes are prevalent throughout the world. A hero can be anyone who has the desire to help others, brave in dangerous situations, and does not look at exterior gain from helping others.
The Hero’s Journey is never an easy one. This particular journey, as detailed in Homer’s The Odyssey, is one of struggle, loss, heartache, pain, growth and triumph. It is comprised of many steps that Odysseus has to overcome and battle through in order to achieve his final goal of reaching his home and his loved ones. From the Call to Adventure to the Freedom or Gift of living, Odysseus conquered them all. The story begins in the middle of the story, as many of the oral Greek traditions did, with the Journey of Telemachus to find his father. Although Telemachus has not yet met his father, it is almost as if they are journeying together, where the end of both of their journeys results in being reunited. Telemachus journeys from being a boy to becoming a man, while out in the sea Odysseus is battling Poseidon to return to the home that wife that he loves and the home he has left behind.
Who is a hero? In contemporary times, usage of the term has become somewhat of a cliché. Over the years, the term “hero” has become representative of a wide variety of individuals, each possessing differing traits. Some of the answers put forth by my colleagues (during our in-class discussion on heroism) as to whom they consider heroes pointed to celebrities, athletes, teachers and family members. Although the occupations differed, each of their heroes bore qualities that my classmates perceived as extraordinary, whether morally or physically. Nonetheless, Webster’s defines “hero” as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Thus, it is worth considering that individuals become heroes relative to the situation with which they’re faced.
Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus shows us a vast amount of bravery and courage; the primary thing a hero needs. In book 9, when Odysseus battled Polyphemus (the Cyclops) to try and save the lives of all the crew members held captive in the cave, he was demonstrating bravery the entire time because, the true meaning of bravery is when you have the ability to challenge fear, or danger which is exactly what he did in this situation. Even though Odysseus was afraid to confront the Cyclops, he did it anyway in order to get him and his crew members out of the Cyclops cave alive; despite the 2 men the Cyclops ate. Another way Odysseus demonstrates courage and bravery was when he didn’t give us on his crew even when things got rough for example, when he faced Scylla knowing he would lose se...
Has one ever wondered what a true hero might be? The dictionary definition describes a hero as a person who is typically a man that is idolized for special qualities or things he might have done. Is this all completely true? Can anyone truly be a hero without any of this? A true hero is defined by his/her ability to break laws when need be, not have all the knowledge in the world but is able to apply what has been learnt when needed, and noticing differences in different cultures and accepting them.
In Homer’s The Odyssey, the main figure Odysseus has excessive pride, a lack of faith, and selfish intentions, which prevent him from earning the title of hero. These mannerisms are just several examples of his multiple derogatory traits. They completely overpower the few positive attributes Odysseus possesses. The numerous negative behaviors that he displays are not those of a hero. Being chivalrous, determined, growing, or courageous in any way can make a hero. 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.
Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.” -Brodi Ashton. This shines true but is overlooked in today's society . A hero in today's society clashes with the genuine meaning of hero. A hero is someone who is sacrificial, selfless, and modest. A hero is somebody who is bold and valiant and to a great degree dedicated to something. A hero is a selfless individual who puts and the needs of others before their without seeking any attention for fame. A heroic person is prepared to yield his/her life for society and for what is best for the people. These qualities are constant throughout time. They may change a little bit depending on the society's values. Some heroes throughout history are Odysseus, Stephen Kumalo,
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary a hero is an individual who is admired for great bravery or fine qualities. To me a hero is so much more than a person who shows great bravery. When I think of a hero many fine qualities come to mind; intelligence, courage, altruism, compassion and great bravery.
A hero is a man who is distinguished by exceptional courage, nobility. and strength to carry out tasks that involve great risks. A hero can also be a person who fights for other people to help or save them. from their fears and fears. He opposes the villain - a person who does wicked or intentionally harm others in some way, emotionally or otherwise.
For thousands of years, The Odyssey has remained a model to which many epics aspire. Described by Peter Dalby as “many-layered,” The Odyssey’s themes of heroism and the journey home have been retold and reimagined countless times, captivating scholars, readers, and even movie-goers since the poem’s inception (Dalby 64). The psyche of the average person, it seems, has a fundamental need to believe in heroism and the hero’s journey. Odysseus, the hero of this particular epic certainly exhibits the traits of heroism: “the courage, fighting skill, and leadership abilities” described by Harris, and he has been rewarded for them through centuries of idolization. Indeed as Peter Tooley notes in Reading Epic: An Introduction to Ancient Narratives, “heroism and the hero are at the very heart of mythological and historical epic. Praise and the glory of heroes is perhaps the basis of the concept of heroism” (Toohey 7-8).
When I think of a hero I immediately think of someone who is strong, intelligent, handsome, and daring. Upon closer examination, many different qualities than these become apparent. Courage, honesty, bravery, selflessness, and the will to try are just a few of the overlooked qualities of a hero. The definition of heroism changes with the context and time. Heroes of the past are not necessarily heroes of present time and vise versa.
Heroism is defined as an act of courage and an act of selflessness. They reflect the highest levels of morality in society. Heroes have embodied the morality codes of civilizations throughout the ages. When heroes display courage, observers often identify with that courage. The refusal to take the easy way out and the ability to act in spite of fear, is what makes a person a hero. This is the way everyone wishes to react in the midst of a crisis. As witnessed in literature and real life, mankind needs heroes to provide an inspirational role model, an escape from the mundane, and a guide for morality.