What characteristics must one possess to be considered a hero? Is it the courage, the strength, and the knowledge that makes a hero? According to Joseph Campbell, " a hero or heroine who has found or done something beyond the normal range of achievement and experience. A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself" (Campbell 151). A typical hero is said to be someone who has the physique resembling someone strong, courageous and brave. A non-typical hero is one whose appearance contradict with one's strength and physical ability. Beowulf is a non-typical hero because of his appearance, his attitude, and his method of fighting.
Beowulf's appearance creates a look of a typical, average person. " Beowulf was below average size, he looked taller sitting down than standing up, because his broad chest and shoulders were out of proportion to his legs, which were short" (Nye 22). Not only does he not look at all like a hero, he also has a disability. Beowulf's eyes aren't strong due to the stinging of his eye-lids by bees when he was young. Yet, this setback didn't stop him. He was said to be "the rare kind of person who makes strength of his own weakneses" (23). By doing so, " his real strength lay in the balance of his person-which is, perhaps, another way of saying that he was strong because he was good, and good because he had the strength to accept things in him that were bad" (24). .
Beowulf's attitude accounts for his being a non-typical hero. He resorts to his physical strength to fight his battles, rather than using weapons. During the fight with Grendel, Beowulf was without a sword for he "left his sword stuck on the top of the mound" (27). Yet, his bare " mortal fingers were like ten red-hot nails driven into his skin. Grendel had never known strength like this" (40). When Beowulf fought against Grendel's mother, he was again without weapon and he carried only his strong hands.
The hero's do their work on the field and on the court. ... The most common form of these is a sports hero. ... Next, there are civilian heroes. These heroes have struck on an emotional chord with the world. ... Each individual has their unique definition as to what heroes should be. ...
DONNIE DARKO ESSAY: Donnie Darko is perceived by viewers of the film as being a classic anti-hero. ... Donnie proves his anti-heroism on two separate occasions, the first which was flooding the school enabling him to meet the girl of his dreams was done physically by him but mentally he was unaware of his actions at all, the word anti-hero means a hero of unconventional type and isn't a hero that isn't awake during his actions incredibly unconventional. ... Once again all of this was done with out his knowledge and without him getting any recognition, but still it was Donnie who ...
Brutus the Tragic Hero A tragic hero is the dominant character of a book or play, whose actions affect the overall tragic outcome. ... In Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus" character fulfills all these attributes, and he should therefore be considered the tragic hero. ... In addition to being one of the main characters, if not the main character, Brutus fulfills another common characteristic of a tragic hero by being generally held in high regard among the men around him. ... High rank, nobility, and loss of self importance are characteristics that make up Brutus and all other tragic heroes. ...
Medea: the Tragic Hero Aristotle's tragic hero is defined in Poetics and consists of five essential characteristics. ... Aristotle states that a tragic hero must be noble, which means that the hero must be of high social class possessing moral qualities as well as unique abilities. ... Medea's slaying of her own children is part of the third characteristic of Aristotle's tragic hero. ... This realization of her own viciousness is the fourth characteristic of the tragic hero. ... Euripedes obviously took a liberal approach to Aristotle's model for tragic heroes and add...
The first definition of a crucible is a vessel in which various metals are purified of contaminants. John Proctor seems to be introduced into this rampant inferno to be tested. His outward shell of vanity is burned away leaving a man of good character. A crucible is also a time period of stress u...
He would be crown"d: How that might change his nature, there's the question:" -Brutus, Act 2, Scene 1 A tragic hero is a good character, and a man with power. ... This essay will prove that Brutus is the true tragic hero of the play "Julius Caesar". ... Brutus has character flaws, which is another characteristic of a tragic hero. ... Brutus is the tragic hero of Julius Caesar. He displays many traits of a tragic hero, such as he has character flaws, or suffers from hamartia, he is a man of power, and good morals, and he has both internal and external struggles. ...
John Proctor fulfils the requirements of a "tragic hero- by his actions throughout the story. ... Proctor is a tragic hero in his efforts to save his wife. ... Once again, Proctor tries to do well but is falsely accused and is represented as a tragic hero. ... With this plea Proctor dashes all hopes of living and has established himself as a tragic hero. It is evident, that John Proctor is the tragic hero. ...
John Proctor: A Tragic Hero A tragic hero in literature stands up for a belief, yet has a tragic flaw or final downfall. In Arthur Miller's drama, The Crucible, John Proctor, the protagonist, is also a cleat example of the typical tragic hero. ... John Proctor is considered a tragic hero because of a flaw in his character and his relationships. ... In conclusion, John proctor was a perfect tragic hero. He was a hero in the fact that he sacrificed his reputation and life, in order to save others. ...
John Fitzgerald Kennedy truly is a twentieth century American hero. ... First, there is the Rogue-Hero. ... The second category of hero is the citizen-hero. ... Kennedy achieve his military citizen-hero status. ... He was an exceptional writer, but not a true American hero. ...
In contrast to this, a Byronic hero not only possesses most of these traits, but qualities of what one would consider an anti-hero as well. A Byronic hero is more of a person that does not represent the norms of what one would consider a true hero. Rather than being a hero of action, Byronic heroes are heroes of consciousness. ... Byronic heroes are meant to be clever and Mr. ... The tenth doctor has some qualities of a Byronic hero but moreover suit the modern representation of a love struck hero. ...
