Literature
Throughout the development of Western civilization, the developmentof heroism in human society was evidently illustrated during the AegeanCivilization. During this period, numerous individuals, depicted throughliterary works such as legends, myths, and folklore, have been consideredheroes because of the extraordinary strength and power that they possess.Indeed, technically defined, heroism is a term appropriated to anindividual who possesses "remarkable physical courage" (Mi
Where before, thetraditional definition of hero and heroism has to do with physical andmoral courage, Aristotle in Poetics argues that heroes can also be'tragic. Combining both theconventional and Aristotle's definition of a hero, heroism is defined as anindividual who possesses not only physical strength, but also must havemoral strength or courage, which is developed as the hero/heroine faces acomplex ordeal and eventual realization in facing antagonisms and problemsin life. However, a hero is defined in a two-fold manner. The tragic hero is explicitlyillustrated in the works of Sophocles and William Shakespeare, through theplays Oedipus the King and Hamlet, respectively. A famous example of heroism in literary works is the legend of SirGawain in the Green Knight, where, through poetic imagery, the courageousyet humanistic portrayal of Sir Gawain is illustrated as he battles withthe Green Knight (". Both protagonists,Oedipus and Hamlet, became heroes after they learn from their downfall as aresult of their pride, obstinacy (Oedipus' weakness) and irresolute(Hamlet's) characters at the initial part of the story. / I were a caitiff coward; I could not be excused"). if I turned back now/ Forsook this place for fear, andfled. ' This means that the hero has a tragic flaw in character, calledhamartia, that will mark is downfall and eventual development of moralcourage at the end of the hero's ordeal.
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