Maya Angelou: The Qualities Of A True Hero

    In the Odyssey by Homer, the main character, Odysseus, demonstrates hero like characteristics. An article called The Hero’s Journey states that a hero is someone having the courage of judgement to act on feats benefitting the general populace(Ch.1, Sec.1). Throughout the epic poem he shows such traits to the reader, and characters in the poem.  Someone in another person’s life may feel this way due to similar actions. Selections from

Hannah Duston was a big example of Heroism. Hannah was born in 1657. Hannah and her husband Thomas Duston from Massachusetts were attacked by Indians in there town Haverhill. As they were attacked Hannah's husband fled to save there 7 kids and hannah didn't leave because she was in bed rest from just giving birth. Hannah and her nurse got captured by Natives while the newborn got its head bashed against a tree and house got burnt to the ground. Hannah and her nurse both turned into slaves and experienced lots of torture and harsh living inviroments. The Indians started moving and were beyond Penacook where they had some really brutal things done to them. This is when Hannah descided it was time to escape and she had help from her nurse and

It's interesting to consider what it means to be a hero, and what traits are necessary to showcase bravery and kindness. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and the article “This Texas Hero Saved 17 Lives” by Jessica Press show two examples that showcase the traits of a true hero. One hero trait that is mainly considered a hero to have, is being brave. In both the article and the book, most of the characters show acts of bravery. In The Outsiders, Ponyboy describes Johnny’s bravery.

When asked "Who is your hero?", people are prone to say the orthodox answer of "Spider-Man." The word hero can have another context other than someone in a fiction series. An honorable hero is Maya Angelou because she has given many contributions to affect history since 1928 when she was born. Maya Angelou is a southern African-American woman who endeavored many hardships, but became an inspiration to women across the world by how she overcame them. During the time she was born, racial prejudice was still a problematic situation; however, Angelou voiced these issues and became well known for speaking up. Maya Angelou is a hero with many traits such as courage, perseverance, and skillful intelligence.

What Characteristics do you think about when you describe a hero? Usually people think about selflessness, Bravery, and Confidence. A person doesn't have to have superpowers, super strength, or the ability to fly to be a hero. One Modern day hero is President Barack Obama the 44th President of America and also the first African American President. Like President Obama, Beowulf Leader of the Geat warriors he is headsmart and a strong leader. Although The two heros Live in two different time periods and only on is a warrior. Beowulf and President Obama are both Courageous.

A hero is a person noted for brave acts or goodness of character. A person who face the danger and combats the evil. Heroic leaders have the purpose of achieving the goal, regardless of the challenging difficulties. Often sacrificing their own personal concerns for a greater good Some qualities are passion, integrity, honesty, confidence, patience, selflessness, courageous, and humble. An example of a hero is John Proctor. He is a tormented man. He believes his affair with Abigail irreparably injured him in the eyes of God, his wife Elizabeth, and himself. True, Proctor did surrender to sin and commit adultery; however, he lacks the capacity to exonerate himself.

Oliver Stone once wrote in his story Where I Find My Heroes in which he explained about what he thought was a hero,” The teenage who says no to crack.”This teenager who was a ordinary person not a superhero with powers, he chose right over wrong in which made him a hero in Stone’s eyes.Heroes like these can be seen in real-life helping others while being humble doing it not allowing the fame to change them and persevering through tail after trail.

Arthur Ashe once said, “True heroism is not the urge to surpass others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Someone who stays strong in their heart and shows selflessness towards others even though he or she could be in the risk of personal risk and danger is what makes a true hero. Anyone could be recognized and admired as a hero if they could, but there's a big gap in front of that because it adds on with the hero showing compassion in spite of the obstacles that they are faced with. It could make someone more heroic than he or she ever was by just showing selflessness to others. Clara Barton put herself in danger to treat the wounded during the Civil War and not only that, but she founded what is known today the American Red Cross (History.com). Harriet Tubman helped many slaves to freedom in the north, also placing herself in peril. (History.com). Florence Nightingale, who was a nursing innovator did the similar as Clara Barton, but during the Crimean War (History.com & Biography.com). All of these women stressed the idea of helping others before they did so for themselves, but that took bravery to do so. Whether the challenges that a hero has to endure, a true hero puts others before themselves no matter what the position he or she is set in.

Throughout the history of epic literature, heroes have been an integral part of many different cultures. Some of these heroes are fierce and powerful, renowned for their skill in battle, while some others and clever and cunning, able to talk their way out of any difficult situation. These traits usually emphasize the values of the cultural from which the hero came, and depending on the culture,traits viewed as heroic may drastically differ. Although there exists a plethora of traits any one hero may have, there are three core characteristic that, in my opinion, a hero must have to be considered a hero: the courage to face hardships, the willingness to make major self-sacrifices for the benefit of others, and most importantly, the dedication to do what it takes to reach their goal.

Every individual has a different perspective on what makes a person a hero, for it is not limited to a certain concept; determination, altruism and a hint of hardship and bravery can always birth a hero. Although many acts of heroism are seen and made everyday, the levels of these attributes vary. Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman are both philanthropic, noble individuals that willingly spent their lives as abolitionists of slavery, and both are great examples of the highest levels of selflessness and heroism.

There are many traits that are believed to make an individual a true hero. Some of those traits being physical strength, mental toughness kindness, compassion, bravery, and intelligence. In both today's world and during the times of ancient Greece, there is one trait that prevails among the rest, that trait is mental toughness. Both Odysseus and Chen Si hold this trait within them.

One Example of a true hero showing selflessness, determination and passion can be seen in Source 1. In the article, Eddie Aikau depicts true determination, selflessness and passion in an attempt to save the Hokule’a (a boat he was on) when they

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself” (Campbell 1). When we think of heroes most of us think of movie stars or professional athletes, but it’s not always about your popularity or talent it can also be about how you help society. What I think make a great hero is someone who is able to overcome his or her obstacles in life, is highly motivated, and has plenty of bravery.

Another example of heroes are courageous and unselfish can be found in the life of King Kamehameha. According to Source 2, “After the victory of Nu’uanu, Kamehameha not only cared for his own warriors but for the opposing warriors.” This shows that heroes are courageous, and unselfish because King Kamehameha has a forgiving heart and he wouldn’t just kill the opposing warriors but he would treat them like if they were his own warriors. All the other kings wouldn’t do that but Kamehameha would.

Heroes act a certain way that people may not always take into mind. Heroes are always very determined, but humble and modest. They put others before themselves and keep their minds on their goals and never give up on what they’re doing and what they stand for, even when risks are involved. According to “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an