Heroism
By: Julia Shillinglaw, Ashley Small, and Shane O'Neil
Quote from To Kill a Mockingbird
"Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. Its knowing your licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do."
-spoken by Atticus Finch, by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird.
Famous Quote
The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when you have resolved to be great, abide by yourself, and do not weakly try to reconcile yourself with the world. The heroic cannot be the common, nor the common the heroic.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) U.S. poet, essayist and lecturer
The Golden Child
In Tibet, a young boy with mystical abilities, the Golden Child, receives badges of honor and demonstrates his power by reviving a dead bird. But a band of villains come and take the boy. Later on, Jarrell Chandler is then confronted by a women who tells him that he is the chosen one to save the child, and be the savior of mankind.
Comparing/Contrasting "To Kill a Mockingbird"/"The Golden Child"
Compare:
- Both Atticus from To Kill a Mockingbird and Chandler from The Golden Child are fighting for something they believe in.
- Both Atticus and Chandler are willing to put themselves in danger to protect others.
- In both plots heroism and courage is both physical bravery and strength.
- Also both Atticus and Chandler are public hero's to the community.
Contrast:
- In The Golden Child the main character (Chandler Jarell) wants to find the child with the mysterious powers to show heroism.
- In To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus is defending Tom Robinson for rape of Mayella Ewell.
- In The Golden Child the antagonist has kidnapped the child with the mysterious powers.
Applying This Theme in Our Lives
We could use this theme in everyday life by knowing even if you do not succeed that you tried your hardest in your heart. Know that you have done the right thing for yourself and for others around you, that is what really matters. Also to know that you had the courage against everyone's doubts and fears, you will have defeated it!