[NinjaFerret]

I just took this class and we focused quite a bit on classic vs romantic heroes, and now I'm going to try to take it one step further and bring in modern heroes. <P>Classic heroes: Physically imposing, handsome, do things purely for glory, honor, fame, hubris (too much pride, usually fatal in the long run) often a huge part of their character, feels nothing but a desire to gain glory.<P>The romantic heroes brought women into the picture; women were a source of strength (knight fighting, knight gets wounded, sees his maiden praying for him, finds strength, kills bad guy). So now love was part of their emotional repertoire (sp?).<P>Modern heroes... are usually thinkers. They are the underdog, the "geeky" kid in class who through his/her mental prowess saves someone from some great evil. The modern hero triumphs through self-discovery, realizing what he/she is capable of, or conversely, the fallen hero realizes his/her abilities too late ("The Hours," by Michael Cunningham).<P>So Frodo embodies almost all of those categories. The only thing he doesn't do is find love with the opposite sex; no "fine amour." He physically toughens up to the point where he emerges as one who could be a classic hero, yet he has a thoughtfulness and sensitivity that makes him more modern and emotionally accessible.<P>(Hah hah! Little does my brain know that in this disguised slacking off, I was studying! This is great! Hee hee heeee... )