Theme Of Heroism In The Poem To An Athlete Dying Young

Taffler, a character of Timothy Findley's book, The Wars, is a multi-decorated soldier who many people, such as his fellow soldier and the country he fights for, sees him a hero. On the other hand, the poem A.E Housman created "To an Athlete Dying Young" talks about an athlete who died young and offers a different perspective on dying. According to the speaker of the poem, the athlete is “a smart lad” for dying while being in the spotlight (9). The definition of heroism is when a person shows bravery. However, bravery is not the only characteristics of heroism but also doing acts that are helpful and inspire people. Aspects of heroism found on, "To an Athlete Dying Young" applies Taffler, in various ways, such as the requirement for an individual

Children sees athletes as heroes, because athletes can inspire, and spark the light of imagination in the children's young mind. Moreover, athletes are heroes, because they achieve feats that for the general population is seen as impossible and yet they have overcome the challenge. Similarly, Taffler is a man who has great physical body and highly skilled. Taffler, has perfect body according to Robert who has seen Taffler shirtless as Taffler throwing stones at the bottles, with great accuracy. (Findley 31). Another show of Taffler, great skill and physical strength is when he threw Harris’s' ashes. “Then he leaned way back and wound the box behind his ears-just like a football and giving a great, inadvertent yell he threw it out so far it passed the centre and was gone from sight” (Findley107-108). The implication of “he threw it so far out it passed the centre and was gone from sight” implies that Taffler has tremendous strength and accuracy that it is beyond what Robert expected Taffler to do, which is to just place the ashes in the middle of the river. Aspect of heroism such as heroes being skilled applies to Taffler, because Taffler is skilled which is prevalent when he threw rocks at the bottles. Therefore, the speaker’s perspective on heroism applies to Taffler as well because they have great physical strength and are both skilled that they are considered