Preview

Heroism In Literature And Film Analysis

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1139 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Heroism In Literature And Film Analysis
A Discussion of Heroism in Literature and Film

Melissa Bushman, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Mar 1, 2007 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites.

Defining Heroism
Each individual has their own personal definition of heroism or more specifically the characteristics of a true hero. Some may believe that a hero must be a person of high morals, while others may believe that a hero must a brave person, and yet others may believe that a hero can conceivably be a hero by chance and must not possess any specific qualities. Dictionary.com defines a hero or heroine as a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his or her brave deeds and noble qualities.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle defined heroism in his book titled Poetics. …show more content…
In the novel, a young girl is possessed by demons. Father Karras enlists the help of Father Merrin in exorcising the demons from the girl. While performing the exorcism, the demons leave the girl and possess Father Merrin. Realizing this, the priest jumps out the window to his death. In a classic example of heroism in the face of good versus evil, Father Merrin saves the girl by becoming possessed himself, and then gives his life in order to prevent the demons from leaving his body and entering another.
Examples of Heroism in Film
Examples of heroism in film are also numerous. However, they are a bit harder to identify, because many films are adapted from novels. For example, The Exorcist, mentioned above, was adapted to a 1973 film that won several awards, including Oscars and Golden Globes.

One example of heroism in film is Batman. Originally appearing in comic books, the character Bruce Wayne takes on the identity of Batman in order to fight evil in Gotham City. In the original Batman film, as well as the sequels, Batman fights various evil characters, saves innocent people, and restores order in the city of Gotham. Neither Batman, nor Bruce Wayne, receives any form of compensation for, or personal benefit from, performing these heroic …show more content…
There is no list of required acts or characteristics that define a hero. Atticus Finch, Nancy Drew, Robin Hood, Father Merrin, Batman, and Buffy Summers are very different characters, and they are all heroic in different ways. In the end, each of these characters helped others without personal gain as a determining factor. http://voices.yahoo.com/a-discussion-heroism-literature-film-218006.html References
"Hero." Dictionary.com website. URL: http://Dictionary.reference.com/browse/hero
Keen, M. "Robin Hood a Peasant Hero." EBSCOhost database. URL: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=9110210460&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live
Otto, M. "Girl Sleuth and the Fountain of Youth; At 75, Nancy Drew Continues to Enchant Readers--and Now Academics, Too." ProQuest database. URL: http://proquest.Umi.com/pqdweb?did=899780321&Fmt=3&clientId=65562&RQT=309&VName-PQD
Pendharkar, L. "The Hero Chronicles." The Heroism Project website. URL: http://www.heroism.org/decades.html
"Profiles in Courage: Harper Lee 's to Kill a Mockingbird." National Endowment for the Humanities EDSITEment website. URL:
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Ender Wiggin Character Analysis
    • 395 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ender Wiggin Character Analysis

    The dictionary definition of a hero is “a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” Now, while all of this is true, a hero can be so much more. A hero can be someone who would risk himself for the better of humanity, get what they need need accomplished done well, be a great leader, know when to do the right thing, and be morally balanced and virtuous.…

    • 395 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comparing Heroism In Candide And The Love Suicides At Amijima
    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Comparing Heroism In Candide And The Love Suicides At Amijima

    What is heroism? Heroism is typically described with qualities such as courage, bravery, fortitude, unselfishness, or someone who has achieved some fantastic goal or status, or even someone who has accomplished a great task. Heroism consists of always striving to do what is right, rather than what is pleasant, or convenient, or what everyone else is doing. In the stories "Candide" and "The Love Suicides at Amijima," it is proved that almost anyone can be a hero. This is established when people of the so called "middle class" emerge as heroes.…

    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Sow Much Grod: Acts Of Heroism In Literature
    • 216 Words
    • 1 Page

    Sow Much Grod: Acts Of Heroism In Literature

    These actions of heroism don't just occur in literature. Many people have shown acts of heroism. For example Robin Emmons, a woman who had the desire to help bring healthy foods to low income communities, to improve the health of the people in those areas. After experiencing her brother grow borderline diabetic, due to a lack of accessible healthy foods in his transitional homing, she became inspired to help others in need (Geil 1). What she did next was unthinkably selfless; she quit her job and dug up one-fourth of her backyard. She started growing healthy, easily accessible food for people in need. Eventually, she started a non profit organization that delivers healthy foods to people in need, called “Sow much Grod” (Geil 2). Her organization…

    • 216 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Jefferson Smith Goes To Washington Analysis
    • 423 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Jefferson Smith Goes To Washington Analysis

    Throughout history, there have been an incalculable number of heroes; that can be through reality or fictitious. From viewing the clips from this assignments and reading various articles regarding heroism, there are multiple aspects that determine exactly what a hero should be. In regards to the Spiderman video, Aunt May explains that a hero is someone that is courageous, self-sacrificing, and sets examples for others. Likewise, an article I read describes a hero as someone who is courageous, selfless, humble, patient, and caring. In my opinion, a hero is an individual who cares more about the life of others than themselves; they would do anything in their power to protect others as well as the world around them.…

    • 423 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Comparing Heroism In Fredrick Douglass And October Sky
    • 1090 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Comparing Heroism In Fredrick Douglass And October Sky

    Contrary to popular culture, heroism is not all about gaining glory as sometimes portrayed in the…

    • 1090 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Hero's Journey In Books And Movies
    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Hero's Journey In Books And Movies

    The hero’s journey, if executed properly, can create some wonderful stories. A lot of the most praised and well known books, movies, and plays follow the hero’s journey almost exactly, even some with the steps in the same order. For example, The Hunger Games, The Giver, Divergent, Twilight and many more enjoyable books and novels match up with the hero’s journey fairly closely.…

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Tragic Hero In Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible'
    • 2494 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Tragic Hero In Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible'

    F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of novels and short stories, once said, “Show me a hero and I’ll write you a tragedy.” There is a fine line between a hero and a tragic hero. All heroes emerge from tragedies. A person who presents bravery and courage despite certain circumstances is considered a true hero. Many people have once called someone a hero sometime in their lifetime. Many heroes vary from comics to historic figures, even people in every day life. On the contrary, nobility, an error in judgment or a flaw, realization of that flaw, and communal pity are all traits of a tragic hero. Therefore, John Proctor in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, George Milton from the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and Mel Gibson all fit the role of tragic heroes in diverse ways.…

    • 2494 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example About Racism
    • 804 Words
    • 4 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example About Racism

    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee depicts racism in the 1930’s and shows the characters had to overcome challenges because of it. The 1930’s was a difficult time to live in because of racism against African Americans and the depression, where thousands of people lost their jobs. The idea “an extraordinary challenge can sometimes make an ordinary person into a hero” shows that anyone in To Kill a Mockingbird could have been a hero, even in a time of hardships. Scout Finch, Arthur “Boo” Radley, and Atticus Finch overcame challenges in the story in order to become great heroes.…

    • 804 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hero's Heart
    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hero's Heart

    Examples of heroism are when people, whether they are real people in movies or characters out of books dedicate their lives to a quest. In the Odyssey, Odysseus goes on the quest of killing the Cyclops. He has to go on this quest so that he can protect the people in his…

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Woodrow Wilson As A Hero
    • 260 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Woodrow Wilson As A Hero

    The official definition for a hero is a person, typically a man who is admired or idealized for courage. Which I agree, a hero is someone who has tons of courage and can make anyone feel safe. I would say a trustworthy man/woman adds to the characteristics of a hero. A hero is also a protector of everyone around. A hero is basically an admired man or woman who tries everything in their power to do anything they can for someone.…

    • 260 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Elie Wiesel's Heroism
    • 990 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Elie Wiesel's Heroism

    Heroism is being passionate. Whether that passion be for a person, for art, equality, etc, it is what drives someone to be extraordinary. It makes them fight, it makes them stand up, it ignites the fire in a hero's heart. For instance, Sylvia Rivera, while making a speech for the Stonewall movement, said, "I'll be the first one to step on any organization, and politician's…

    • 990 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    paper
    • 822 Words
    • 4 Pages

    paper

    Heroism and heroes are two things that no matter what, will always be around, people will always admire heroes, and wish they could be them. While there is an endless supply of heroes from the beginning of time, there are only a few definitions, yet over time that definition has changed to an extent. Dictionary.reference.com defines hero as: “A man of distinguished courage of ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.” Campbell’s definition, “someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself… The hero performs a courageous act in battle and saves lives,” varies quite a bit from the twenty first century definition. In both Joseph Campbell’s definition and dictionary.com’s definition, several characteristics of heroes are laid out before us: courageousness, dedication, and selflessness. These can be considered the three pillars of heroism; these characteristics add character and depth to a hero, other than somebody who performed a glorious act. Courage, the biggest pillar, are the building blocks of a hero, without courage, you simply cannot be an admired hero. Courage allows you…

    • 822 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Beowulf: My Definition Of A Hero
    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Beowulf: My Definition Of A Hero

    What is a hero? Many people have different definitions of what a hero can be for example Beowulf. In the story Beowulf, Beowulf the hero is described as a great fighter and a man of tremendous strength. In my opinion a hero is not what the story describes a hero as. my definition of a hero is a good person who does something nice or saves somebody. A hero can also be someone you look up too. The Hollywood's definition of a hero is way different than my definition of a hero their definition of a hero is somebody who saves lives, has supernatural powers and are always protagonist in the stories. Some traits a hero has to make him a hero are they are nice, brave, have powers, caring and are patient. My definition and Hollywood's definition of…

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To kill a mocking bird
    • 1056 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To kill a mocking bird

    Through mysterious adventures and horrific events there is bravery and courage shown in To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel, published in 1960, is very well written. The author, Harper Lee, used some of her experiences as a child. This book displays many actions of bravery and courage. Characters in this novel that display bravery and courage are Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and Boo Radley. True bravery and courage is hard to find in people.…

    • 1056 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Amazing Spiderman
    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Amazing Spiderman

    The movie even has an anti-heroism theme. For example, consider the way Uncle Ben died. He could have left the robber alone (and he absolutely should have, the movie was trying make acts of heroism look really stupid). The whole incident just screams "Don't try to be a…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics