what makes a hero?

[jwcpgh]

No: HPFGUIDX 80627

> Kneasy wrote:
> 
> For heroism - a big hand for Ron! Having seen what happened to 
chess 
> pieces that were taken, he deliberately sacrifices himself, 
resigned 
> to injury or worse, so that his friends can go on.
> 
> By contrast, once Harry encounters Quirrell!Voldy, the whole thing 
> runs 
> on rails. Harry has no choices; it all has an inevitability. 
Retreat 
> is impossible, he has no means of attack. All he can do is lie, 
> prevaricate, hoping some deus ex machina will intervene. A species 
of 
> bravery, maybe. But the action of a hero? I don't think so.
> 
> "hermionegallo"
> 
> I would suggest that the word 'hero' can mean a lot of different 
> things. Although the modern use of the word is looser, in the 
> strictest sense, a hero is someone with outstanding qualities who 
is 
> able defeat terrifying enemies, often WITH supernatural or divine 
> help. Like Achilles, Odysseus, Perseus, Jason.
> 
> Plenty of heroes must act with their backs to the wall, so to 
speak, 
> but they are still considered heroes. Examples that come to mind 
> include the Alamo, Geronimo, various congressional medal of honor 
> winners, etc.
> 
> Bravery, courage, and fortitude are virtues. 
> 
> I would also suggest that Harry's heroic act is the choice to go 
> after the stone in the first place. He realizes the danger and acts 
> despite seemingly overwhelming odds. 
> 
> I will also say categorically that none of this detracts from Ron's 
> or Hermione's courage in accompanying him.

Laura:

is it possible that there's a difference between the literary 
term "hero" and the way we use it in common, real-life parlance?  The 
literary hero has a pretty strict definition and set of criteria, as 
I understand it.  But we use it a lot more loosely and casually in 
conversation.