Concetti Chiave
- Heroism involves displaying qualities such as bravery, courage, and valor, as exemplified by figures like Captain Moore and a group of Boy Scouts in critical situations.
- Unsung heroes are individuals whose heroic acts go unnoticed, often gaining recognition when public opinion shifts from indifference to admiration.
- Cowardice is identified as a lack of courage, illustrated through historical examples like a man on the Titanic and the general behavior of bullies.
- The contrast between cowardice and professions that demand courage, such as police officers and firefighters, highlights the necessity of bravery in dangerous jobs.
- Heroism and cowardice are presented as opposing behaviors, with heroism leading to admiration and cowardice to infamy.
Definition of heroism
Heroism, simply, means acting like a hero. A hero is someone who possesses great bravery, courage, and valor. So heroism means acting in a way that shows those qualities.
Ex: The Queen herself was on hand to present Captain Moore with his award. In a short speech, she praised Captain Moore's deeds, citing his great heroism.
Ex: The heroism displayed by the entire group of Boy Scouts when their Scoutmaster slid down the cliff and broke his ankle was astounding. They all acted more like men than boys that day, risking their own lives to rescue him.
Unsung heroes and changing opinions
If you want to talk about someone whose acts of heroism go without being noticed, you would call that person an unsung hero. When popular opinion about someone changes from apathy to great admiration, you might say that he or she has gone from zero to hero.
Ex: There were many unsung heroes on the day of the earthquake, including all of the teachers at Cedar Ridge High School, who calmly led their students out of the building just before it collapsed. None were hurt.
Ex: Roscoe lived a quiet life, and women didn't take much notice of him. But now that he has won the lottery, he's gone from zero to hero in their eyes.
Examples of cowardice
Cowardice is a lack of courage and bravery. Someone characterized by cowardice does not stand up for what is right for himself or others.
Ex: When the Titanic was sinking, the rule was that women and children were the first to board the lifeboats. When a man was discovered wearing a dress and trying to sneak aboard a boat, it was seen as the ultimate act of cowardice.
Ex: In much the same way that bravery leads to greatness and fame, cowardice leads to shame and infamy.
Cowardice refers to a type of behavior, whereas coward refers to the person who fails to act with bravery when called upon to do so.
Cowardice and courageous professions
Ex: Many people think that bullies are usually cowards underneath a false exterior. The minute someone turns the tables on them, they run away in fear.
Ex: One thing you can be sure of is that you can't be a coward if you're a police officer or firefighter. Those jobs are just too dangerous to be done by anyone lacking courage.
Domande da interrogazione
- What is the definition of heroism according to the text?
- What examples of cowardice are provided in the text?
Heroism is defined as acting like a hero, which involves displaying great bravery, courage, and valor. The text provides examples such as Captain Moore's deeds and the Boy Scouts' actions to illustrate heroism.
The text describes cowardice as a lack of courage and provides examples such as a man disguising himself as a woman to board a lifeboat on the Titanic and the general behavior of bullies who flee when confronted.
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