Hero: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 09:56, 31 May 2006

"The central character (masculine or feminine) in a work. The character who is the focus of interest" (Harmon & Holman 246).

A hero traditionally has positive qualities such as high ethical standards, commitment to duty, perseverance, and courage. An antihero possesses negative qualities such as cowardice and dishonesty.

"In criticism the terms carry no connotations of virtuousness or honour" (Cuddon 406).

"An evil man or a wicked woman may be the central characters, like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth" (Cuddon 406).

Works Cited:

Harmon, William and Holman,C. Hugh. A Handbook to Literature. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall., 1996.

Cuddon, John Anthony. A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory. 3rd ed. Worcester, Great Britain: Billings & Sons Ltd., 1991.

Harris, Robert. "Homepage." Virtual Salt. 2 Jan 2002. 10 Feb. 2006.

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-The main character in a narrative or dramatic work. As stated by  J.A Cuddon Dictiionary of Literary Terms pg. 406 Often referred to as a "Protagonist". The hero in a dramatic work can cause much criticism due to the expectations of the reader that the character may be superior or display likeable qualities. For example In "Yellow Woman, a shart narrative by Leslie Marmon Silko, the expectations of the Indian woman to remain faithful to her husband and not have an affair with a stranger, thus resulting in mixed emotions by the reader. When the expectations of the reader be disappointed the character the "Protagonist" will in lamens terms be referred to as the ant-heroine.
+"The central character (masculine or feminine) in a work. The character who is the focus of interest" (Harmon & Holman 246).
+*A hero traditionally has positive qualities such as high ethical standards, commitment to duty, perseverance, and courage. An antihero possesses negative qualities such as cowardice and dishonesty.
+*"In criticism the terms carry no connotations of virtuousness or honour" (Cuddon 406).
+*"An evil man or a wicked woman may be the central characters, like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth" (Cuddon 406).
+See also: [[heroic ideal]].
+== Works Cited: ==
+*Harmon, William and Holman,C. Hugh. ''A Handbook to Literature.'' 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall., 1996.
+*Cuddon, John Anthony. ''A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory.'' 3rd ed. Worcester, Great Britain: Billings & Sons Ltd., 1991.
+*Harris, Robert. "Homepage." [http://www.virtualsalt.com/litterms.htm Virtual Salt]. 2 Jan 2002. 10 Feb. 2006.