[Kingslayer]

I've always found it interesting who people view as heroes(or heroines)in fantasy.Is a hero a great warrior(Knights of the Round Table),or just the main character in the story?Is it someone who performs great deeds, but is not physically strong(Frodo,Sam),or a character who achieves redemption?

Or is a hero something else?

[saintjon]

A hero doesn't always have to be someone who achieves redemption. Usually redemption requires some pretty heroic acts, though, so it's almost a consequence.
I think whether someone's a hero or not comes from inside. They gotta have morals. IMO Ned Stark is the most heroic guy I've read about in a long time. Consider his traits and you'll know what I think really makes a hero.

[Loaba]

Was Frodo a Hero?

In the Quest of Mt. Doom he almost fails. The power of the ring corrupts him, Frodo claims it as his own. In the end it is only through Gollum's treachery/lust that the ring is finally cast into the fire of Mt. Doom and destroyed.
Even before this point, Frodo is ready to capitulate. Without Sam's fortitude and support perhaps the Quest fails even before they reach Mt. Doom.

So, was Frodo less of Hero for faltering at the end? Or was he one of the greatest Heros of The 3rd Age for accepting the Quest of Mt. Doom in the first place?

I would say that being a Hero has more to do with accepting a task, doing what is right. How the task is finally completed in the end is maybe not so important.

I say Frodo is a Hero http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Loaba (edited February 25, 2002).]

[Bardos]

Definition Of A Hero: Dead (as usuall is the case).

Perhaps that's a joke, perhaps not. But usually someone is name "hero" after his death.

Anyway, I don't think there is standard defination. It is someone who does heroic acts. But then comes the question: What is a heroic act? Personaly, I don't know, but recognize it when I see it.

For simplicities sake, "hero/heroine" is the main character of a story.

[Zsinj16]

I think a true hero is someone that goes through hell and back to reach their ultimate goal. To become a hero, they've got to have internal/ external struggles that they must overcome. They must have perseverance to the bitter end, and decide never to give up no matter what it takes.
They have to muster up every drop of energy and strength they have to face whatever evil is threatening them.

[Crysania]

As much flak as Jordan gets, I do think he's on the right track with the definition of heroism. Mat is always complaining about having to do what you have to do, basically. To save your friends, to do what he thinks is right etc. And the consequence is heroism although he just sees it as 'doing what you have to do'

Basically, you have the choice to do it or not, but you don't have to like it or even look forward to doing it. If you go through with it, it's heroic.

I know this is vague...but it's hard to articulate.

It's this concept that makes the anti-heroes. They may hate themselves for doing 'the right thing' but they inevitably do it.

[Blizzaurel]

I just read Man For all Seasons... not fantasy, but I'd say in that book Thomas More is a hero (despite the fact that I'm not religious). I know that he's not always perceived as a hero in reality, but in that book he was.
Even to the end, in the face of opposition from all sides, even his family, he stated his love for them, but also his need to stick to his morals and his integrity above all else, even though he may be wrong.
He said something along the lines of that a man is a good man if he does what his conscience tells him too.
Anyway, he was a real hero in that book.
As to fantasy, I haven't read many true heroes who do what they do to hold on to what they believe is right. I think Eddard Stark was a hero, and Herald-mage Vanyel Ashkevron in Last Herald-mage (he totally sacrificed himself for the people, all the time).

[Midus]

Nothing personal, but I have a gripe with your definition. Somebody who faces opposition from all sides but sticks to his morals anyway probably isn't a hero but a fool. Cultists and fanatics fit this discription. If you are out on a limb all alone its time for a reality check, not 'heroic' perserverance.

[ChrisW]

Yeah, I've always thought Ned was a fool. The Hound is my hero in that Martin series.

[Mithfânion]

I wouldn't call Ned a fool on any day. He definitly has hero characteristics. He was doing what was best for everyone but made two fatal errors, results of his honor:

He told Cersei, so that she could pack her bags and stay alive. If he hadn't done this Robert would have killed her, Jaime and the three kids without a shred of doubt. Now he did, which was a reason for his downfall.

Secondly, he didn't know little Sansa would go running to Cersei and tell everything her father had been thinking of. That did it.

What he had planned was also very fair. Stannis was and is after all, the rightful ruler.

Ned should never have trusted Peter, but let's not forget Petyr was his last choice, it was that or certain defeat. Let's not forget what Eddard achieved in the past, his victories, his actions. A very strong character. And this "fool" Eddard Stark sure did the right thing with little Jon Snow, who'll probably be of utmost importance in the fight against the Others.

Still, I find his death scene impossible to understand. It just doesn't seem like him to admit to a treason he never committed.

The Hound on the other hand, I fail to see what's so heroďc about this butcher. He saved Arya for his own gain and stalked Sansa because he's madly in love with her. What a hero.

[This message has been edited by Mithfânion (edited February 26, 2002).]