What Makes What Makes A A Hero?Hero?

Nicole HarrisNicole Harris

1. How do we define the 1. How do we define the personality traits of a hero?personality traits of a hero?

• A hero is someone who is selfless, A hero is someone who is selfless, kind, brave, gallant, unwavering, kind, brave, gallant, unwavering, valiant, and determined.valiant, and determined.

Eragon and Captain AmericaEragon and Captain America

• Eragon is similar to Captain America Eragon is similar to Captain America because, they are both selfless.because, they are both selfless.

• Eragon puts others before himself Eragon puts others before himself just as Captain America does.just as Captain America does.

2. How do the setting, 2. How do the setting, conflicts, and antagonists conflicts, and antagonists

influence the development of influence the development of a literary hero?a literary hero?

• They can influence the development They can influence the development of a literary hero by either causing of a literary hero by either causing their development as a hero to speed their development as a hero to speed up or to slow down.up or to slow down.

Eragon and Robin HoodEragon and Robin Hood

• Robin Hood is faced by many antagonists. For Robin Hood is faced by many antagonists. For example King John and the sheriff. As example King John and the sheriff. As illustrated in the many legends of illustrated in the many legends of Robin HoodRobin Hood..

• Eragon is faced by the Razac (The creatures Eragon is faced by the Razac (The creatures that killed his Uncle), Murtagh who started out that killed his Uncle), Murtagh who started out as his friend then became one of his biggest as his friend then became one of his biggest enemies, and the evil king himself (whom enemies, and the evil king himself (whom Eragon seeks to remove from power.) as Eragon seeks to remove from power.) as illustrated in the illustrated in the Inheritance CycleInheritance Cycle by: by: Christopher Paolini.Christopher Paolini.

3. How does a hero reflect 3. How does a hero reflect his/her particular culture and his/her particular culture and

society?society?

• A hero's particular culture can A hero's particular culture can influence how they view the world. influence how they view the world. Thus reflecting the different aspects Thus reflecting the different aspects of their society.of their society.

Eragon and Captain AmericaEragon and Captain America

• Eragon grew as a farmer, and for a Eragon grew as a farmer, and for a while was content to remain that while was content to remain that way, thus allowing the world to “pass way, thus allowing the world to “pass him by.” (him by.” (Inheritance Cycle: Inheritance Cycle: Paolini Paolini Christopher)Christopher)

• Captain America grew up in New Captain America grew up in New York City during the 20’s-30’s and York City during the 20’s-30’s and 40’s. By the time 40’s. By the time

4. How does a hero represent 4. How does a hero represent his/her time period and his/her time period and

geographical area?geographical area?

• A hero can represent his/her time A hero can represent his/her time period and geographical area, period and geographical area, because those aspects tend to because those aspects tend to influence their views of the world influence their views of the world around them as well as what they around them as well as what they believe.believe.

Eragon and Robin HoodEragon and Robin Hood

• Robin Hood grew up during the middle Robin Hood grew up during the middle ages, and therefore represents the ages, and therefore represents the cultures and locations of that time period. cultures and locations of that time period. (All the Robin Hood legends)(All the Robin Hood legends)

• Eragon grew up on a farm in a dark age-Eragon grew up on a farm in a dark age-like time period and therefore represents like time period and therefore represents everything that came about during that everything that came about during that time period. (time period. (Inheritance CycleInheritance Cycle: Book one: : Book one: Eragon)Eragon)

5. How do various cultures 5. How do various cultures reward or recognize their reward or recognize their

heroes?heroes?

• Various cultures may recognize their Various cultures may recognize their heroes by making them a leader of a heroes by making them a leader of a group of people. Or a hero may be group of people. Or a hero may be rewarded with some form of rewarded with some form of payment such as money.payment such as money.

Eragon and Robin HoodEragon and Robin Hood

• At the end of his journey, Eragon is At the end of his journey, Eragon is rewarded with the fact that he has freed rewarded with the fact that he has freed Alagaesia from a great evil. He is rewarded Alagaesia from a great evil. He is rewarded by a great celebration, and the finding of all by a great celebration, and the finding of all the dragon eggs that Galbatorix had kept the dragon eggs that Galbatorix had kept hidden.hidden.

• At the end of his journey, Robin Hood is At the end of his journey, Robin Hood is rewarded with the return of the true king, rewarded with the return of the true king, who makes him the Earl of Nottingham after who makes him the Earl of Nottingham after dining with him.dining with him.

6. How does the developing 6. How does the developing heroes travels affect his/her heroes travels affect his/her

development as a hero?development as a hero?

• A developing hero's travels can A developing hero's travels can affect their development by affect their development by introducing them to new views and introducing them to new views and beliefs.beliefs.

Eragon and JasonEragon and Jason

• As both Eragon and Jason embarked upon a great As both Eragon and Jason embarked upon a great and arduous journey to remove a usurper from and arduous journey to remove a usurper from power, they can very easily be compared to one power, they can very easily be compared to one another.another.

• Eragon encountered many different races and Eragon encountered many different races and people. For example he encounters merchants people. For example he encounters merchants and sailors, soldiers, priests, elves, dwarves, and sailors, soldiers, priests, elves, dwarves, “magicians”, and a variety of other creatures that “magicians”, and a variety of other creatures that simply are too difficult to describe.simply are too difficult to describe.

• On his journey Jason encounters many of the On his journey Jason encounters many of the heroes of Greek myths and legends. For example heroes of Greek myths and legends. For example he meets Hercules who aided him in finding and he meets Hercules who aided him in finding and retrieving the legendary Golden Fleece.retrieving the legendary Golden Fleece.

7. How do the characters a 7. How do the characters a developing hero meets affect developing hero meets affect

his/her development as a his/her development as a hero?hero?

• The new characters may introduce The new characters may introduce new points of view, thus expanding new points of view, thus expanding the developing hero's horizons.the developing hero's horizons.

Eragon and Robin HoodEragon and Robin Hood

• Robin Hood becomes an outlaw because Robin Hood becomes an outlaw because he believes that the common folk are he believes that the common folk are being wrongfully taxed by the sheriff and being wrongfully taxed by the sheriff and earl of Nottingham.earl of Nottingham.

• Eragon leaves his home at the urging of Eragon leaves his home at the urging of Brom the local storyteller (who also turns Brom the local storyteller (who also turns out to be a dragon rider who’s dragon has out to be a dragon rider who’s dragon has died), and because of the appearance of died), and because of the appearance of the Razac the creatures that killed his the Razac the creatures that killed his Uncle while looking for Saphira’s egg.Uncle while looking for Saphira’s egg.

8. How do different events 8. How do different events affect the development of a affect the development of a

hero?hero?

• Different events may hinder a hero's Different events may hinder a hero's progress, or an event may change a progress, or an event may change a hero in some way. An event might hero in some way. An event might make a hero stronger, reaffirm make a hero stronger, reaffirm his/her trust in another or create new his/her trust in another or create new antagonists for the hero to face.antagonists for the hero to face.

Eragon and Captain AmericaEragon and Captain America

• Captain America for example was a Captain America for example was a hero who heard the call, tried to hero who heard the call, tried to answer it but couldn’t. At least not answer it but couldn’t. At least not before he received the “Super Soldier before he received the “Super Soldier Serum.” This serum made him faster, Serum.” This serum made him faster, stronger and smarter then the other stronger and smarter then the other soldiers. Making him the only person soldiers. Making him the only person who had the capability of beating who had the capability of beating Hitler’s “right-hand man” the Red Skull. Hitler’s “right-hand man” the Red Skull.

Eragon and Captain AmericaEragon and Captain America

• When Eragon found Saphira’s egg, he When Eragon found Saphira’s egg, he became the most wanted person in the became the most wanted person in the empire.empire.

• Eragon was Eragon was forcedforced to leave when he came to leave when he came home to find that his uncle (the man who home to find that his uncle (the man who had raised him) had been killed and his had raised him) had been killed and his home burned down. Eragon then set out to home burned down. Eragon then set out to find and destroy the creatures that had find and destroy the creatures that had killed his uncle and changed his life forever.killed his uncle and changed his life forever.

9. How does a character's 9. How does a character's background (origin) affect background (origin) affect

their development as a hero?their development as a hero?

• A character's background may A character's background may influence their view the world around influence their view the world around them. their origins may affect how them. their origins may affect how easy their journeys are. For example if easy their journeys are. For example if someone was born wealthy then they someone was born wealthy then they would be able to make the journey in would be able to make the journey in luxury. If someone was born poor, they luxury. If someone was born poor, they may not be able to afford such luxury.may not be able to afford such luxury.

Eragon and JasonEragon and Jason

• Eragon grew up a small farm Eragon grew up a small farm ((InheritanceInheritance: Christopher Paolini): Christopher Paolini)

• Jason “reared” by the centaur Chiron Jason “reared” by the centaur Chiron on a small island without the on a small island without the knowledge of the usurper who had knowledge of the usurper who had attempted to kill Jason and all of his attempted to kill Jason and all of his relations. (EBSCOhost: Jason, in relations. (EBSCOhost: Jason, in Greek mythology)Greek mythology)

10. How does a character's 10. How does a character's aspirations affect them as a aspirations affect them as a

hero?hero?

• A characters aspirations may affect A characters aspirations may affect their determination to reach their their determination to reach their goal. For example if a character goal. For example if a character aspired to be a farmer and was born aspired to be a farmer and was born on on a farm, they may be reluctant to a farm, they may be reluctant to respond to the "call."respond to the "call."

Eragon and Robin HoodEragon and Robin Hood

• At times Eragon simply wishes to return At times Eragon simply wishes to return home to his farm, even though he know he home to his farm, even though he know he can’t.can’t. At other times Eragon is determined At other times Eragon is determined to defeat Galbatorix once ad for all.to defeat Galbatorix once ad for all.

• Robin Hood’s aspirations mean that he is Robin Hood’s aspirations mean that he is willing to risk his life for people he doesn’t willing to risk his life for people he doesn’t even even know.know. If only to protect the common If only to protect the common people from the evil of the sheriff and people from the evil of the sheriff and current Earl of Nottingham. (“The Real Robin current Earl of Nottingham. (“The Real Robin Hood”)Hood”)