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	==The Modern Fictional Hero==		==The Modern Fictional Hero==
	In modern ], the hero is often simply an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances, who, despite the odds being stacked against him or her, typically prevail in the end. In some movies (especially ]), the hero may exibit characteristics such as superhuman ] and ] (even the point of being seen as being nearly unkillable, despite whatever damage is done to them). Often a hero in these situations has a foil, the villain, typically a charismatic evildoer who represents, leads, or himself embodies the struggle the hero is up against.		In modern ], the hero is often simply an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances, who, despite the odds being stacked against him or her, typically prevail in the end. In some movies (especially ]), the hero may exibit characteristics such as superhuman ] and ] (even the point of being seen as being nearly unkillable, despite whatever damage is done to them). Often a hero in these situations has a foil, the villain, typically a charismatic evildoer who represents, leads, or himself embodies the struggle the hero is up against.

	==People traditionally recognized as heroes==
	*], ] president
	*], ] freedomfigther how did many african contrenys self-governed
	*], ] and reverence for life. Opped a hospital in ]
	*], Hero in ]
	*], a young heroine
	*], ] president how did negotiate peace betwine ] and ]
	*], figth for independence for ]
	*], Americans most decorated solider in ]
	*], liberator of ] from unelected military regime
	*], railwayman
	*], ] and WWII millitary leader from ]
	*], ] leader in ]
	*], give one billion dollas to poor children in ]
	*], USA president
	*], ] ] pilot some shot 72 emeny plan
	*]
	*], war hero in ]
	*], figth for freedom for ] from the Rome
	*], leader of ] in ]
	*], Liberator of ] from ]
	*], only infantryman ever awarded the ] twice
	*], ]s leader in WWII
	*], ] revolutionary
	*], WWII ] and ]
	*], commander of the ]
	*], Trying to kill ]
	*], the last ] of ]
	*], religious authority of ]
	*], ] politician who fought and died for ] independendence at the ]
	*], heroine in WWII
	*], hero in the ]. The first African-American to be awarded the Navy’s second highest honor, the ]
	*], American warhero and general in ] and ]
	*], ] for the ] in WWII
	*], ] ]
	*], ] ] activist
	*], ] general and hero in ] and ]
	*], fight for voting rights for women
	*], ] rebel leader against ]
	*], ] leader
	*], Brittish ] agent how saved thousands of jews in ]
	*], find and capture ] – amerikans first serie killer
	*], USA president in ]
	*], Croatian and Yugoslav pilot and solider. Become ]
	*], the non-violent activist and revolutionary
	*], Canadian ] pilot in WWII
	*], defeating ] in ]
	*], ] general. victory of ]
	*], ] hero in ] and ]
	*], ]
	*], ] ]
	*], hero in ]
	*], leader of a revolt to figth ]
	*], ] king, milltary leader and war hero in ]
	*] Chinese late ] general who fought many one on one battles during ]
	*]
	*], German Woman who, during World War II, protected 9 Jewish children.
	*], creation of ]
	*], liberator for ] from ] regime
	*Vice-amiral ], Amerial and hero in ]
	*], ] folk hero
	*], British leader in ]
	*], helped ] to save the jews
	*], a ]n peasant who saved the Czar
	*]
	*]
	*], ]
	*]
	*], killed ]
	*], saved 250,000 ] from ] in WWII
	*], won the freedom for ]
	*], dide a “witchhunt” on communister
	*], leader of ] in WWII
	*], ] leader in ]
	*], ]
	*], ] senior commander in the ] in WWII
	*], creation ]
	*], ] of ]
	*], ]
	*], ]
	*], Liberator of ] from communist regime
	*], WWII heroine
	*], Chinese general
	*], helped poor pepole och figth against the emperor
	*] Human Rights
	*], Figth for the blacks civil rights
	*], French supporter of the ]
	*], leader in ]
	*], ] general in WWII
	*]
	*], ] revolutionary
	*], ]
	*], fight for democracy and independence for ]
	*]
	*], prophet of Islam
	*], held in a ]n prison for 26 years. He led the battle to end ]
	*] an ancient chinese warrior who was executed as an assassin, but buried a hero
	*Vice-Admiral ], hero of the ]
	*], resistance heroine, on whom the film ] is based
	*], real life ]
	*]
	*], saving 1,200 jews during the ]
	*], saved 1,200 ] and ] in ]
	*], naval man in ]
	*], ] pirate in 16th century
	*], saving 100,000 jews during the ]
	*], ] revolutionary
	*], victory of ]
	*], fight for human rigth for ] indians and other indigenous people
	*], ] folk hero of the 1700s
	*], the "inventor of ]" and thanck of radar. The allied won the war
	*], ] ] ] killed by the ] in the ]
	*], Killed by ] when he tried to save immigrant
	*]
	*] the most influential samurai in Japanese History
	*], legendary ] ] solider how killed 542 sovjet solider
	*], El Libertador. South American revolutionary leader
	*], ]
	*], a ] hero
	*], ]n Folk Hero during ] Occupation
	*], ] military officer who averted a worldwide nuclear war in 1983
	*], ]n folk hero
	*], leader of a slave revolt in the ]
	*], nun who helped poor people in ]
	*], Cancer activist hero, run ]
	*], USA president how trying mace peace betwine ] and ] in ]
	*], designer of the ]; he spent the final hours of his life helping people to the lifeboats and went down with his ship
	*], ] admiral and naval hero in ]
	*], one of the leader in ]
	*], heroines in ] who fight the ]s invasions
	*], hero and general in ] and ]
	*], liberator of ] from communist regime in ]
	*], ]n national hero, founder of a revolutionary net
	*], WWII spy
	*], leader of the ]
	*], ] ] ] and ], ] and ] winner
	*], the national hero of ]
	*], ] leader in ]
	*] won the freedom of the Scots from the ruthless King ]
	*], Chinese hero who was a martial arts master as well as an esteemed doctor. Famous headquarters was named "Po Chi Lam"
	*], ] leader in ]
	*], ]s prime minister and war hero in ]. Tried to negotiate peace between the ] and ]
	*], Liberator of ] from ]
	*] Chinese warrior who destroyed the ] and its army without losing one single battle
	*], ] admiral
	*], Chinese general from the Southern Song Dynasty

Revision as of 12:22, 28 December 2005

This article is about the type of character. For other meanings, see Hero (disambiguation).

Distinguish heroine, "female hero," from heroin, the drug.

From the Greek cognate ηρως, in mythology and folklore, a hero (male) or heroine (female) is an eminent character who quintessentially embodies key traits valued by its originating culture. The hero commonly possesses superhuman capabilities or idealized character traits which enable him or her to perform extraordinary, beneficial deeds (i.e., a "heroic deed") for which he or she is famous (compare villain).

Overview

A person normally becomes a hero by performing an extraordinary and praiseworthy deed. Traditional deeds are slaying of monsters and saving people from certain death. A hero normally fulfills the definitions of what is considered good and noble in the originating culture. However, in literature, particularly in tragedy, the hero may also have serious flaws which lead to a downfall, e.g. Hamlet. Such heroes are often referred to as tragic heroes and have a strong basis in ancient Greek tragedy.

Sometimes a real person might achieve enough status to become a hero in people's minds. This is usually complemented by a rapid growth of myths around the person in question, often attributing to him or her powers beyond those of ordinary people.

Some social commentators prescribe the need for heroes in times of social upheaval or national self-doubt, seeing a requirement for virtuous role models, especially for the young. Such myth-making may have worked better in the past: current trends may confuse heroes and their hero-worship with the cult of mere celebrity.

The Greek "Hero"

Homer applies the Greek word ηρως to all free men who were fighting in the Trojan War. Another epic poet, Hesiod, uses it in the context of the Fourth Age of Men. The most common mythological meaning comes from the Greek poet Pindar, who presents them as the offspring of mortals and the gods or those who had done a great service to mankind.

Later European History

The classic hero often came with what Lord Raglan (a descendant of the FitzRoy Somerset, Lord Raglan) termed a "potted biography" made up of some two dozen common traditions that ignored the line between historical fact and mythology. For example, the circumstances of the hero's conception are unusual; an attempt is made by a powerful male at his birth to kill him; he is spirited away; reared by foster-parents in a far country. Routinely the hero meets with a mysterious death, often at the top of a hill; his body is not buried; he leaves no successors; he has one or more holy sepulchres.

Most European indigenous religions feature heroes in some form. Germanic, Hellene and Roman heroes, along with their attributes and forms of worship have been largely absorbed by the Orthodox and Catholic denominations of Christianity, forming the basis of modern day Saint reverring.

Operatic Hero

In opera and musical theatre, the hero/heroine is often played by a tenor/soprano (more vulnerable characters are played by lyric voices while stronger characters are portrayed by spinto or dramatic voices.)

The Modern Fictional Hero

In modern movies, the hero is often simply an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances, who, despite the odds being stacked against him or her, typically prevail in the end. In some movies (especially action movies), the hero may exibit characteristics such as superhuman strength and endurance (even the point of being seen as being nearly unkillable, despite whatever damage is done to them). Often a hero in these situations has a foil, the villain, typically a charismatic evildoer who represents, leads, or himself embodies the struggle the hero is up against.

External links

Exploring the Function of Heroes and Heroines in Children's Literature from around the World
The British Hero - online exhibition from screenonline, a website of the British Film Institute, looking at British heroes of film and television.

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