The American Hero Essay Research Paper The — страница 2

decrepit, old man. This is when the hero everyone once loved and admired becomes weak and helpless. As he is lying on his death bed many people from far and wide come to pay their respects to the honorable Natty Bumppo (American Experience 194-202). The past friends and war partners that are with him in his time of dying include, Indians from different tribes are there along side their enemy, the white man. The white men who are there are members of the U.S. Army. Both the natives and the officers stand side by side and show great respect to Natty the remainder of his long and notorious life. Throughout the many adventures of Natty Bumppo, he always had many of the same characteristics. He always made the right decisions as he was either getting himself out of a dangerous

situation, or debating if something is just or wrong. This quality always gave the reader confidence in Natty. Even if people would not agree with his decision in the first place, Cooper always had a way of presenting the story to where the reader is convinced that Natty Bumppo is making the right decision. Natty always had companions in his adventures as well. Because he had made peace with the Indians, and was taken in by the tribes, they are always willing to come to his aid if he is in danger. Natty was adopted by a native and also adopted a Mohican himself. He always had a companion, who was faithful and loyal, fighting by his side. There were always many dangers which Natty would encounter as well. This is a quality in which most-all heroes attain. In these struggles he

would escape in the nick of time, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat as he evades the situation. Indiana Jones is a recent hero of America that has set new standards in both film and literature. Indiana Jones is a symbol of bravery, action, and knowledge to all who has seen or heard his adventures. He has achieved this reputation by perfecting the characteristics of past literary heroes and adding new elements of humor and action in his stories. George Lucas, the writer of The Star Wars Trilogy, once again astonished readers and box office viewers when he wrote the story of a unique archeologist that finds himself staring danger in the face every time he turns around. Though Lucas was known around the world for his writing of adventures through space, he once again

electrified the movies screens and book stands with his Indiana Jones Trilogy. (Planet Indy NP) The first book and movie in the series is Raiders of the Lost Ark. Readers and viewers find Indiana Jones in the Peruvian jungle in 1936, running a booby-trapped gauntlet to fetch a solid gold idol (Planet Indy NP). Indiana puts himself in danger in order to achieve the task at hand He retains he artifact only to lose it to his chief rival, Belloq. This begins the story of Indiana Jones and his quest for the long-lost Ark of the Covenant. But during his search Indy is meet by the Nazis. Hitler hopes to find the Ark and use it to make his army invisible. (Planet Indy NP) Indiana Jones finds the Ark, but as he finds it, so do the Nazis. They had followed him the entire time and planned

to take the Ark as soon as he found his prize. They did eventually get the Ark but Indy out-smarts them and gets away with the Ark the defeats the Nazis. Indiana uses wits in this novel in order to defeat his enemy, which is a prime characteristic of the American hero. Lucas and Spielberg join forces again and conjure up the sequel to the first Indiana Jones adventure, Temple of Doom. Indy gets right down to the problem at hand: retrieving a precious gem and several kidnapped young boys on behalf of a remote East Indian village. (Planet Indy NP) Indiana puts his life in danger in order to help his friends as he accepts to help the Indians get back what s rightfully theirs. His companions this time include a easily frightened, night club entertainer, Willie Scott, and a feisty

12-year old kid named Short Round. Throughout, the plot takes second place to the thrills, which include a harrowing roller coaster ride in an abandoned mineshaft and Indy s rescue of the heroine from ritual sacrifice (Planet Indy NP). Indy once a again escapes a near death situation by using wits and his will to survive. In the third and last of the Indiana saga, The Last Crusade, we learn how young Indy first developed a taste for adventure and his life long fear of snakes. He is asked by an art collector to search for the Holy Grail. He doesn t accept the offer until he finds that his father is missing while searching for the same artifact. (Ebert NP) Indy, again, puts his life in danger in an attempt to rescue his father. Indy finds himself trying to escape the long arms of