The Odyssey: The Definition Of A Hero

According to Oxford Dictionary, a hero is “a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities” ("Hero."). For the most part, that definition is true. Let 's analyze what this actually means. First off, a hero has to be admired, usually for a certain task or commitment they have out-performed. The task requires courage. Having courage requires one to fear the task, but does it anyways, along with persevering a certain difficulty. Completion of the task will add an outstanding achievement, recognisable to many. One famous hero, Odysseus, conquered is obstacles and returned to his home. His actions, such as blinding a cyclops, escaping cannibals, traveled to the underworld, are very heroic, but also very fictional. Heros are better known for a person or a group of people that exist or have existed. For example, any Super Bowl championship team faced other teams all season and postseason. The winning teams of any year are considered to many as heroes. Obviously not all heroes get recognition the same way that Super Bowl champs do, in fact, most aren’t even remembered by the general public. If anyone does a meaningful gesture or action, whether on purpose or accident, and effects someone positively, they are surely a hero.

A hero, as discussed earlier, face a difficulty or challenge so they had to fight against their fear and overcome the struggle they face. It may appear as if they are without fear but in reality they do posses it. Your ability to tolerate fear is what affects your ability to become courageous, which is what drives heroism. Fear is always in the mind especially in times that requires one to. Heroes usually overcome challenges mentally and physically, but if one is fearless there is nothing to overcome mentally. If a hero is fearless, are they truly a