What Makes a Hero Heroic?

ByJulie Klassen
4 Comments

Today I’m thinking about romances—reading them and writing them—and in particular what makes a hero seem heroic (even swoony) for you? To help you think about this, let’s first play a game. Match each of the 18 “hero actions” below with the period drama where it occurred. (At least 2 of these things appear in more than one drama.)

These heroes are from three of my favorite adaptations: A. John Thornton in North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell,  B. Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and C. Captain Wentworth in Persuasion by Jane Austen.

  1. He makes a bad first impression.
  2. He returns to the area, now a successful man.
  3. Despite being rejected, he writes a detailed, honest letter to explain his actions.
  4. He feigns interest in another woman but his heart’s not in it.
  5. He works secretly behind the scenes to rescue her family from ruin.
  6. He sees her in an apparently compromising situation but defends her to others anyway.
  7. When he learns she advised someone to ask him for a job, his is more amenable to the request.
  8. He tries to hide his feelings for her.
  9. Noticing she’s tired, he arranges a ride for her.
  10. Recognizing his error in separating his friend from her sister, he encourage his friend to marry her.
  11. He treats her aunt and uncle with respect, despite his class prejudices.
  12. In her hearing, he declares she is the best person to care for someone who is injured.
  13. He admires her beauty, but also her selfless service to the less fortunate.
  14. He takes her rebuke to heart and actively works to curb his pride and be a better man.
  15. He makes a trip to her former, beloved home and brings her a keepsake.
  16. When she wants to ask another man’s advice, he says she has a good mind and can make the decision herself.
  17. He writes her a swoony letter, declaring, I have loved none but you.
  18. He proposes again with respectful vulnerability, showing he values her as an equal rather than a social inferior.

Did you remember all of these? Miss any? Answers: 1 A (or B), 2 C, 3 B, 4 C, 5 B, 6 A, 7 A, 8 C (or B) 9 C, 10 B, 11 B, 12 C, 13 A, 14 B, 15 A, 16 A, 17 C, 18 B.

Now, please comment with other actions, behaviors, or characteristics that make a hero a favorite for you. Thanks for reading today…and playing along!

Discover more from Inspired by Life . . . and Fiction

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

JULIE KLASSEN loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota.

4 Comments

  1. I love all of those adaptations too, so I recognized most of these. A couple of them made me rack my brain. 😊
    Noble character is what draws me in the most. It can be hidden for a bit like Darcy, but it always comes out. A sense of humor, especially clever wit that you sometimes have to pay attention to in order to catch it, is a plus too. .
    Mr Knightley is a favorite hero- good, solid character that does what is right, even if it means admonishing the other person out of care for them. He’s not blind to Emma’s faults and wants her to be the best she can be.

    1. Thank you, Amy. Good points. A noble character is very attractive. Humor, too. Henry Tilney comes to mind when it comes to an Austen hero with a sense of humor. Appreciate your comments!

  2. Well, Julie – I did poorly on that quiz but, never mind – you reminded me how great each of those productions were and that I needed to revisit them, particularly Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice. It was certainly the best of Jane Austen adaptations!

Comments are closed.