ORIGINS OF HEROS
Erika Cruz
Professor Weiss
English 1302-714
November 17, 2014
Origins of Hero’s
The concept of heroes has existed for hundreds of years, dating all the way back to the Ancient Greece time period. During this time it was first embellished towards physical ability and through the centuries has evolved to have a wide range of definitions. In Wikipedia a hero (masculine) or heroine (feminine) refers to characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and/or the will for self-sacrifice—that is, heroism—for some greater good of all humanity. The definition originally is referred to martial courage or excellence, but is extended to more general moral excellence. In Modern day, society heroes can range from Police Officers, Doctors, Nurse’s, armed forces or anyone that displays any type of courage or self- sacrifice for another person.
Beginning with the Greek definition of a hero has long evolved from the norm of the romantic and modern day definition. Early heroes during the Greek period were characterized by extraordinary physical ability and incredible battle skills, whereas contemporary heroes rely on intellectual ability and their rebellious nature. Specifically, the original Greek heroes were the one who played a significant part in the Greek myths and folk tales. They were characters with a daring personality and extraordinary abilities, mostly arising from the Trojan War who stopped at no mercy. (Mortals of Ancient Greece). Heroes generally reflect the ideals of their society, and while they are not perfect, they demonstrate the qualities and traits valued by their society. Heroes possess distinguished qualities, but these traits and qualities have evolved drastically over time. In today’s Modern society heroes are often displayed to be fabled characters from a movie, but as we evolved we realize that there is much more to a hero than just dressing up in costumes and fighting crimes. An example of a hero can
Professor Weiss
English 1302-714
November 17, 2014
Origins of Hero’s
The concept of heroes has existed for hundreds of years, dating all the way back to the Ancient Greece time period. During this time it was first embellished towards physical ability and through the centuries has evolved to have a wide range of definitions. In Wikipedia a hero (masculine) or heroine (feminine) refers to characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and/or the will for self-sacrifice—that is, heroism—for some greater good of all humanity. The definition originally is referred to martial courage or excellence, but is extended to more general moral excellence. In Modern day, society heroes can range from Police Officers, Doctors, Nurse’s, armed forces or anyone that displays any type of courage or self- sacrifice for another person.
Beginning with the Greek definition of a hero has long evolved from the norm of the romantic and modern day definition. Early heroes during the Greek period were characterized by extraordinary physical ability and incredible battle skills, whereas contemporary heroes rely on intellectual ability and their rebellious nature. Specifically, the original Greek heroes were the one who played a significant part in the Greek myths and folk tales. They were characters with a daring personality and extraordinary abilities, mostly arising from the Trojan War who stopped at no mercy. (Mortals of Ancient Greece). Heroes generally reflect the ideals of their society, and while they are not perfect, they demonstrate the qualities and traits valued by their society. Heroes possess distinguished qualities, but these traits and qualities have evolved drastically over time. In today’s Modern society heroes are often displayed to be fabled characters from a movie, but as we evolved we realize that there is much more to a hero than just dressing up in costumes and fighting crimes. An example of a hero can
Cited: "Hero." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Nov. 2014. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. "Heroes and Mortals of Ancient Greece." Greek Heroes in Ancient Greek Mythology. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.