The Outsiders Group

Question:

nismagurl
nismagurl
Student
High School - 9th Grade

what's your definiton of a hero? do you think the three boys prove themselves heros accodring to your defintion

the three boys are dally ponyboy and johnny

Rate question:

Posted by nismagurl on Sunday September 23, 2007 at 7:43 AM and tagged with the outsiders, themes.

Answers:


  1. cldbentley Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    In my mind, a hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice himself with no hesitation for the good of someone else.  I do believe that each of the three characters named qualifies as a hero.

    Even despite any other events that take place in the book, the boys' reactions to the fire at the church near Windrixville qualifies each of them as heroes.  Ponyboy charges into the burning church based on the sheer knowledge that there are children inside, which is heroic even if he feels responsible for the disaster.  Johnny follows Ponyboy into the fire, then shoves him toward the window, putting himself last, when the building begins to collapse.  Dally first puts out the fire on Ponyboy's back, then goes into a collapsing, burning building to save Johnny, and gives no thought to his own well-being.  Those three individual acts make each of the boys a hero.

    There are other examples throughout the novel that provide more material upon which to base the belief that Dally, Johnny, and Ponyboy are heroes.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by cldbentley on Saturday November 3, 2007 at 8:04 PM

  2. wlgus95
    wlgus95 Student
    High School - 9th Grade

     My own definition of a hero is being brave and risking its life to save the ones who are in danger. They would save even their enemies, a stranger. Showing its courage and saving them with only one simple reason: to save them. In my opinion, I don’t think the three boys proposed themselves to be a hero according to my definition because in this case of scenario, they HAD to save them because it was their own fault for burning down the church. Also, in normal days, they would just be like hoods that smokes all the time, swear, fight, sometimes kill people, and do things they aren’t supposed to do. That’s why they aren’t heroes in my opinion.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by wlgus95 on Saturday February 9, 2008 at 10:01 PM