A Hero Is No Braver Than An Ordinary Man - 1387 Words

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, â€Å"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.† Yet, if you ask anyone else, he will likely give you a completely different definition of heroism. Heroism is an inconsistent social construct that all may interpret to suit their own wants and beliefs. My personal definition of a hero comes not from the virtues of man, but the flaws. While heroes today are often seen as perfect individuals with a single flaw in order to make them â€Å"relatable,† real heroes are much more complex. Someone who is heroic may need their own, special opportunity to be heroic just because â€Å"random acts of kindness† simply do not exist in day-to-day life, but heroes do. A hero’s influence does not have to be widespread, nor does it have to be deep-seated in our modern culture. However, the main trait that prevents everybody from being a hero is the ability to act on one’s dreams and follow through on one’s commitments. Simply put, it takes perseverance and tenacity in order to reach for one’s dreams and achieve one’s goals. A hero must also have the good sense and intelligence it takes in order to be able to overcome one’s own imperfections or weaknesses. A man who possessed the wherewithal to achieve his goals and more was Nikola Tesla. Tesla was born in Smiljan, Croatia, on July 10, 1856. His true academic career began in college, where he studied at both the Polytechnic School at Graz, as well as the University of Prague. While he wasShow MoreRelatedLeiningen vs. the Ants Essay903 Words   |  4 PagesA hero is â€Å"one that shows great courage† according to Webster’s Dictionary. In Leiningen versus the Ants by Carl Stephenson, the protagonist Leiningen can be considered a hero. Not only does he risk his life to save his peon workers and farm, but he is respected by all in every way, shape, and form. Although he has many advantageous characteristics, he also has some that are quite dubious, making a slight dent in his bold delineation. In total, Leiningen has both positive and problematic attributesRead MoreAre Heroes Born or Made?1263 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer. Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes †What is a hero? Is a hero someone who flies around wearing a red cape and blue tights? Is a hero someone in comic books who always fights the bad guys? Or is a hero an ordinary person who just does what they can to help others. Well in my opinion a hero is anyone who can show courage when faced with a problem. A hero is a person who is able to help another in various ways. A person canRead MoreOdysseus Defines an Epic Hero Essay950 Words   |  4 PagesOdysseus Defines an Epic Hero On a website posted by teachers at Harker Heights High, an epic hero is someone who embodies the values of a particular society. He is superhuman. An epic hero is braver, stronger, and cleverer than an ordinary person. He is on a quest for something of great value to him or his people. The villains that try to keep the hero from his quest are usually uglier, more evil, and more cunning than anyone we know in ordinary life. The epic hero is often of mixed divineRead MoreSimilarities Between Odysseus And Macbeth1357 Words   |  6 Pagesfrom the fact that Odysseus is an epic hero, while Macbeth is a tragic hero. Common traits of a tragic hero are the hero is of noble birth the hero possesses a tragic flaw that eventually leads to his downfall. The flaw offer has to do with excessive pride also known as hubris. On the other hand, epic heroes are larger than life and embody the values of particular society, an epic hero is superhuman. He is braver, stronger, smarter and cleverer t han an ordinary man. Many times they are on a quest forRead MoreGoing Out of Their Way for the Well-being of Another...That Is a Hero645 Words   |  3 PagesA hero is defined as a person, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. What is your perception of a hero? Is it a â€Å"hero† from the movies, like spiderman or batman? The idea of heroism is widespread and many opinions arise from the concept. A hero is someone who goes out of their way for another’s well being. Calvin Coolidge, a writer, once said, â€Å"Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.† (Brainy quote). For one to actually be a hero, oneRead More Beowulf vs. Gilgamesh as Epic Heroes Essay1025 Words   |  5 Pagesimportant part of a man’s life back during the seventh and eighth centuries. Every battle has a man who stands out at the forefront and shines above the rest. During these two time periods there stood two great men: Gilg amesh, the selfish, lustful king, and Beowulf the proud and boastful warrior. These two men, both powerful and well-respected, embody the true essence of what it means to be an epic hero. Gilgamesh’s lifestyle and rash decisions make him the perfect candidate for a life lesson by theRead MoreHector And Achilles : The Values Of Achilles And Hector787 Words   |  4 PagesHomer, Achilles and Hector, although different personality wise, they both portray the ideal values of an epic hero. An epic hero, according to Greek mythology, is a human being with characteristics that society admires and wishes to emulate. He fights for a noble cause, defending those who cannot defend themselves. He is a superhuman; he is braver, stronger and smarter than any ordinary person. And yet, even though extraordinary in all ways, he has a mix of divine and mortal blood in him, makingRead MoreWhat Makes a Hero? Essay1377 Words   |  6 PagesEveryday, society misconceives identities. In the eyes of Ralph Waldo Emerson, â€Å"A hero is no braver than any ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.† Heroism, in Emerson’s perspective, is the ability to stand out for longer, and to endure hardships for greater durations. The passengers on United Flight 93, which was hijacked by terrorists as part of the September 11 attacks on the U.S demonstrated bravery like few other civilians can measure up to. Although it is not clear whetherRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Be owulf - Noble Or Narcissistic1002 Words   |  5 Pages Noble or Narcissistic Many people have different understandings of what it is to be a hero. In the dictionary the definition of a hero is a person, typically a man, who people admire or idolize for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Beowulf lacks noble qualities. Noble qualities show what he will fight for what they believe in no matter the cost or the benefits. A true hero fights for the good in the world and what they believe in their heart. In the epic poem BeowulfRead MoreAchilles: A Classical Hero Essay example1091 Words   |  5 PagesAcross the world, ordinary people find heroes that they aspire to imitate. Comic books portray heroes as super strong men in spandex suits, and although a three-year-old child might aspire to be superman, more mature audiences hopefully find more realistic figures to idolize. Take Barack Obama, the President of the United States; he worked his entire life to attain the highest position in our government, President. Obama was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth but to a single mother in Hawaii