Abraham Lincoln Characteristics of a Hero - 907 Words

Stories of heroes have been a source of inspiration and awe for as long as people could tell them. We look to legends of great men and women who have accomplished grand tasks in hopes that we, too, may one day be as tremendous as them. Indeed, most of us do; albeit not in the way we imagine. Most of them slip by us unnoticed, overlooked, and will never be the protagonists of epic stories. So what exactly makes a hero? I believe a hero to be anyone who possesses the qualities of a hero: courageous, perseverant and compassionate – all of which Abraham Lincoln perfectly demonstrates. Abraham Lincoln was born in February 12, 1809, in a log cabin to a family of uneducated and poor pioneers (Denenberg and Bing). Throughout his life, Lincoln†¦show more content†¦These actions will kindle both the admiration and animosity of his people, the latter being the cause of his tragic and unfortunate death (â€Å"Abraham Lincoln†). Albeit I do not consider his courageousness to be Abraham Lincoln’s most notable quality, it is a vital aspect of what makes a hero. As expected from one born to a peasant family of pioneers, Abraham Lincoln’s climb to success was a strenuous one. Many times did he take on new challenges, and many times he was defeated. However, this did not dishearten the indefatigable Lincoln, who never let a misstep impeded him from treading further. In 1831, he started a business that ultimately failed (Fehrenbacher). This will be the first of many failures in Lincoln’s life. Lincoln ran for legislature in 1932, but was defeated (Fehrenbacher). The next year he opened another business that once again failed (Fehrenbacher). In 1835, Ann Ruthledge, a dear friend of Lincoln’s, died (Fehrenbacher). Albeit no real proof of a romantic connection between her and Lincoln exists, her death had a large impact in Lincoln. The following year, Lincoln had a nervous breakdown, and in 1838 was defeated for Speaker of the Hou se (Fehrenbacher). He was later defeated for Congress in 1843(Fehrenbacher). Despite being later elected for Congress in 1846, he lost renomination in 1848 (Fehrenbacher). He was rejected for land officer in 1849, and in 1854 was defeated for Senate (Fehrenbacher). In 1856, he was defeated for nomination forShow MoreRelatedAbraham Lincoln : Heroes Serve Powers Or Principles Larger Than Themselves952 Words   |  4 Pages In his article on the characteristics of a hero, Tollefson writes â€Å"Heroes serve powers or principles larger than themselves.† Before one is called a hero, he should try to find a cause or principle where he is not the only one concerned. A hero cannot be called a hero if he does not defend something that should help people in general and not just himself. A hero gets his or her strength from higher principles and he or she knows the value of sacrifice. Only brave and strong men and womenRead MoreMeaning Of Heroism1098 Words   |  5 Pagesca n be found in real life, such as Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United Sates who led the Union in the war against slavery, and successfully abolished. Others are found stories known by many people, such as Cinderella, who overcame challenges with a kind heart and good deeds. Although heroes are found all over the world in both real life and imagination, what about them makes them heroic? One individual named Oliver Stone, believes that being a hero involves becoming a better personRead MoreThe Heroes Of Abraham Lincoln2389 Words   |  10 PagesKevin Yu Mr. Stebens American Literature B4 4/27/2015 American Hero Many admire presidents as their heroes for the great power they possess. However, in my opinion, a hero is built by his or her characteristics. Abraham Lincoln was known to be a shining star in American History at time of darkness. He was courageous; when segregation, slavery, racism dominated the social trend it was him that pushed against all the odds and united the nation. He was confident; when facing military disadvantages andRead MoreThe Importance Of Heroism895 Words   |  4 Pages Is heroism somebody with the ability to fly, run fast, bench ten humans, and shoot lasers out of their eyes? No. Real heroism is the sacrifice by someone to make the world a better place. Anyone can perform heroism it just takes â€Å"super hero† actions to get them there. To start, there are multiple occurrences of heroism to this day. Some heroes are brave, courageous, and valiant men and women that serve in our military. All these people dont have extraordinary superpowers besides anRead MoreWhat s A True Hero?856 Words   |  4 PagesWhat s a True Hero is? A true hero is someone with courage and bravely to go beyond in order to help someone, because as a child to an adult it’s a very different view point and Joseph Campbell help us understand what it takes to be a true hero. For many years, many people have used the word hero for many situations that doesn t particularly consider being a hero. If we Google the definition for the word hero; A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualitiesRead MoreExample Of Heroism1907 Words   |  8 PagesHeroes play a significant role in modern day society, as well as throughout history. Heroes are portrayed in many different forms. A hero can be anyone that has committed an act of heroism, by completing a task for the benefit of others instead of oneself. Our first heroes as children tend to be our parents. Society sets a standard, or guideline that determines if a person is correctly defined by the term heroism. A hero’s cause or morals also c an evolve as society changes. Heroism throughout theRead MoreThe Legacy Of Abraham Lincoln1928 Words   |  8 PagesAbraham Lincoln was seen as two extremes, either a hero fighting for the end of a satanic institution, or as a tyrant seeking to divide and destroy a necessity of life. With the United States on the brink of a civil war, Lincoln took office in the hardest time imaginable, but no better man could have been President during this difficult time, both sides drastically tried to avoid war, but it was inevitable (Bredhoff). Lincoln is considered to be the best President as accomplishments go, with repairingRead MoreKey Qualities Of An Effective Leader818 Words   |  4 Pageswho have impacted our world. However, Abraham Lincoln is my choice for this assignment. In many respects, Lincoln was a hero due to his notable acts, great causes and nobel works. In fact, his entire cabinet were rivals who opposed him, but he knew each of their abilities and strengths would be of v alue to the country (Gilder Lehrman, n.d.). At a Society for Human Resource Management Conference, speaker Kearns Goodwin identified 10 key qualities in Lincoln we should look for in leaders today,Read MoreInfluence of Iliad to Heroes in Todays World2063 Words   |  9 PagesIndividuals The classical hero is a timeless description of human beings all around the world. Not only is it part of some human’s nature; it is used as a source of entertainment for people as well. The classical hero is seen both in the Iliad, as we have discussed, and in today’s world every day and in most cases everywhere. Heroes are seen today in TV shows, novels, movies, sports, in politics, and on the news, etc. As an audience, we love to study the classical hero whether we’re watching somethingRead MoreCharacteristics Of A Hero1492 Words   |  6 PagesChristopher Reeve once said, â€Å"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.† Heroes don’t always have to be superheros or superhuman, but they are regular individuals who share the same characteristics. These characteristics help define who or what a hero really is because it shows through their actions. The true characteristics of a hero are to persevere through life obstacles and challenges, to be selfless and help others, but not