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Heroism Essays and Research Papers

We found 15 free essay samples on Heroism for you

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Overview

Bayaning Third World Film Analysis

This movie is about making a movie about Jose Rizal. Nothing is taken for granted as well as the heroism of National Hero itself. If it is wrong to doubt Rizal’s heroism, it looks like we will be guilty of this movie. ” What I mentioned were the first words in the movie “Third World…

Film Analysis,

Heroism,

Personality

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Pages: 5
Words: 1114

Definition of Heroism Argumentative Essay

Heroes are regarded as individuals of the highest order in society, their legacies forever eternalized in the archives of mankind itself. Throughout history, heroes have taken up many forms, from revolutionists to leaders of civil movements to conquerors of entire continents and great inventors, heroes have arisen since the emergence of society as we know…

Hero,

Heroism

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Pages: 8
Words: 1762

Hero – Person Who Displays Characteristics of Heroism Argumentative Essay

In Wikipedia, a hero is described as a “Person who displays characteristics of heroism.” A patient that had a successful surgery may percept the surgeon as their hero. A young child may perceive Superman, Spiderman or Wonder Woman as his hero. My point is that the definition varies from person to person, but to me…

Hero,

Heroism

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Pages: 2
Words: 382

Heroism Definition Is – Heroic Conduct Argumentative Essay

A hero is idolized for their courage and valiant ideals. Heroism plays a vital role in the lives of Beowulf and Sir Gawain. These characters represent what a hero stands for, but their lives as heroes are told differently in their stories. They are both seen to be brave, noble, and skilled men on their…

Heroism,

Personality

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Page: 1
Words: 227

Importance Of Heroism

What makes the acts of heroism different from the daily life of others? To people the act of heroism can be from their favorite sports player or an actor. But, to some they could be there family member. Each heroic act in the society is faced with great challenges but the hero never backs down….

Hero,

Heroism,

Personality

Open Document
Pages: 2
Words: 403

The Concept of Heroism in the Classical Greek Literature

War is mostly considered a masculine sport for it celebrates strength, stamina, and virile courage. However, the word hero is actually derived from the Greek heros which means warrior, protector, defender, Heros is actually related to Hera who was the protectress of marriage; hence one concludes that heroism is not exclusively masculine but also feminine….

Heroism

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Pages: 2
Words: 500

The Controversial in Heroism

Superhero fictions are popular for decades, many people passionate about their story. Meanwhile, some people oppose them especially some parents prohibit their child to watch them. In their opinion, these “heroism” describes in comic book and movie have problems because they suggest solving things use violence, which has always been controversial in the superhero’s heroism?…

Fiction,

Heroism

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Pages: 3
Words: 698

Everyday Heroism

Heroes are often the ones who have superpowers and who fought off evil villains. I never considered anyone who is well known to be a hero because they did not have superpowers and did not possess stereotypical superhero qualities like the characters in movies or TV shows, until I read about Pat Tillman. In 2002,…

Hero,

Heroism

Open Document
Pages: 3
Words: 641

Betelhem Tewodros Dr. Shevalier Sociology

Hochschild is an american Sociologist that started the concept of feeling rules in her 1979 study of flight attendants. Feeling rules are shared rules that govern how we are supposed to feel in social relationships. We try to feel what we expected we should be feeling, we attempt to feel what we are supposed to…

Emotion,

Heroism,

Psychology

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Pages: 3
Words: 570

Gentlemen Are Not the New Knights

Arguably the most influential virtue of the medieval era, chivalry once dominated the European world as all people sought lived in accordance with it. Manifested in the literature of the time, medieval chivalry encompassed a sense of honor, dignity, courage, and bravery. Though some of its elements endure today, chivalry was never resurrected after the…

Ethics,

Heroism,

Morality

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Pages: 6
Words: 1364
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Check a list of useful topics on Heroism selected by experts

A Mystery Of Heroism

A Mystery of Heroism by Stephen Crane

A Statue Loses Its Position: a Look at The Heroism Notion as Illustrated by Stephen Crane

Analysis of Heroism Depiction in ‘The Iliad’ and ‘The Aeneid’

Analysis of Heroism in Movie Hancock

Authentic Act of Valor and Heroism

Beowulf: Epic Poem About Heroism

BlurredLines of Heroism and Villainy in Shakspeare’s Henry Vs

Classical and Renaissance Paradigms of Heroism in Hamlet

Compare and contrast images of heroism in these two poems

Courage and Heroism in the Battle of Gettysburg in “The Killer Angels”

Defining a Hero: Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and Atticus Finch’s Heroism

Definition of Heroism (in response to the Odyssey)

Differing Modes of Heroism in ‘Beowulf’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’

Emerson’s Essay On Heroism

False and Wrong Heroism

George’s Heroism in ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck

herobeo Epic of Beowulf – The Heroism of Beo

Heroism – Beowulf

Heroism as the Central Theme in Hemingway’s Work

Heroism Beowulf and Sir Garwain

Heroism Essay Introduction

Heroism in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knights

Heroism in Movie “Gladiator”

Heroism in the Context of Modern Language

Heroism Redifined: Lord of the Rings

Isolation from The Society: Heroism Or Foolishness

More than Heroism in Santiago

Representation of The Themes of Honor and Heroism in Beowulf

Review of King Leopold’s Ghost: a Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild

Selfishness Doesn’t Equal Heroism

Stan Lee: True Inspiration and Heroism

Stephen Crane on Heroism

The Dawn of Ancient Greek Heroism

The Heroism in Hoppie

The Heroism Of Hester Prynne

The Isolated Case of Heroism in The Great Gatsby

The Origin of Individual Heroism

The Role Of Heroism In Beowulf

Theme Of Heroism In To Kill A Mockingbird

information

Heroism in Different Cultures

In the year 2020, narratives from ancient societies are just as important nowadays as the times they were written. Fascinating tales of heroes like Gilgamesh and Oedipus date back to thousands of years ago. The epics of these powerful figures detail historic events of each of their lives. These heroes exemplify honor, nobility, and bravery relevant to their time and culture. The characters Sundiata and Odysseus from “Odyssey” and “Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali” share qualities and have differences which elucidate the culture of which they are from.

 

Sundiata

“Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali” is the legend of Sundiata Keita, an influential leader in the 13th century of Mali, West Africa. Mamoudou Kouyaté, a respected griot, is the narrator of the tale. He expresses that Sundiata’s fate for greatness was prophesied, as a soothsayer predicted his reign as Mansa— king of kings (Definitions for Mansa)— of the Malian Empire (5-6). Sundiata, or Mari Djata as he was known as, was an intelligent, but handicapped “lion child”. However, he overcame his physical disadvantage, and persevered through exile, familial death, and uncertainty of his destiny. Despite his many accomplishments (e.g., redeeming Mali from the Sosso king) Sundiata exhibits many respectable traits that contribute to his heroism.

Sundiata displays kindness, generosity, and bravery in several events noted in the epic. On pages 25 and 26 of “Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali,” he forgives the nine witches Sassouma— his late father’s hostile first wife— sends to kill him, and gives each of them nine of the ten elephants he hunted that day. He demonstrates bravery by gathering an army for the purpose of reclaiming Mali, and his promises the reclamation by saying:

“I salute you all, sons of Mali, and I salute you, Kamandjan. I have come back, and as long as I breathe Mali will never be in thrall— rather death than slavery. We will live free because our ancestors lived free. I am going to avenge the indignity that Mali has undergone.”

Sundiata is a true king in the eyes of the Malian people. He is a respectful, compassionate, and selfless leader, and his virtues align with the culture of ancient Mali.

 

Odysseus

“Odyssey” is an acclaimed account by the notable Greek author Homer. The epic describes the lengthy journey home of the king of Ithaca, Odysseus, after the Trojan War. Odysseus boasts and tells amusing stories of his protracted adventure from visiting the island of Helios— the Greek Sun God— to a year long sexual affair with the beautiful sorceress Circe. Odysseus has obvious flaws, like his imperious arrogance; nonetheless, he is a beloved hero to the people of Ithaca.

Odysseus discloses stories that portray him as being an overly confident, conniving troublemaker; yet he is also logical and courageous enough to get out of that same trouble. He also yearns for knowledge, even disobeying rules to do. As the epic continues, he begins to display more positive heroic qualities that can be attributed to maturity. Scenes in book 9 and 11 of “Odyssey” are exemplary of how Odysseus shows growth in wisdom and self discipline. In book 9, he demonstrates self control by resisting the urge of revealing his name to the Cyclops. In book 11, prophet Tiresias reveals Odysseus’s fate, and says to him that in order to return home he should, “… have the power to curb their wild desire and curb your own… Leave the beasts unharmed, your mind set on home, and you may still reach Ithaca…” (Lines 125-126). Odysseus takes head to Tiresias’s foresight, and he is obedient and restrains himself from eating the cattle.

Odysseus has remarkable hubris, but he is intelligent and resilient. Since he won the Trojan War, his reputation as hero never ceased because of his flaws. The people of Ithaca saw an immaculate leader, and the gods saw a witty, courageous mortal. Sundiata and Odysseus had favorable characteristics, and their respective cultures contributed to their heroism.

 

Comparison and Contrast

The oral compositions of Sundiata and Odysseus narrate likeable qualities that earned the heroes respect by their people. Although from different cultures, Sundiata and Odysseus have similar morals. Foremost, predetermination is an important theme in both epics that is displayed in the characters and their cultures. Predetermination is the idea that one’s fate is predetermined by a god (Definitions of predetermination). His or her destiny must and will be fulfilled regardless of any circumstance. As mentioned previously, Sundiata’s destiny to be “more mighty than Alexander the Great,” was foretold by the soothsayer. In the “Odyssey,” Odysseus’ destiny is to return to Ithaca alone after a long, treacherous journey. Zeus declares his destiny; and although Odysseus May defy the gods, he believes in their power.

Another outstanding similarity between Sundiata and Odysseus is the supernaturalism in the epics. Mali is portrayed to be a world where unnatural beings like witches and sorcerers execute supernatural tasks (e.g., communicating through animals), and human beings sometimes have the power to do so as well. For example, Sundiata was crippled until the age of seven. On the day he began to walk, he proceeded to tear a giant baobab tree from the roots, carried it on his back, and placed it in front of his hut (20-22). Soothsayers, dreams, and prophecies imperative to the Malina culture, and the belief in such phenomena continues the civilization. The “Odyssey” is a world where gods are incompatible to humans, but the humans interact with the gods as if they are equals.

Lastly, Sundiata and Odysseus differ in their romanticism. Sundiata is negligent from any romantic aspect of life, almost disregarding his marriage. However, Odysseus is a promiscuous man, and had relations with many women, including the nymph Calypso.

 

Conclusion

The “Odyssey” and “Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali” are remarkable epics that feature respected heroes from Greek and West African cultures. Heroism is crucial in a society because of the values it represents. Historical epics are as important nowadays because of the insight they give into the times and progression of ancient civilizations. Sundiata and Odysseus are leaders with different values relative to their respective cultures and beliefs. However, the qualities they share supersede any discrepancies between the two. 

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