A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HEROISM IN ENGLISH AND AMERICAN LITERATURE

Abstract

Heroism is an important theme in literature, but its meaning changes depending on culture and history. Although English and American literatures share a common language and early traditions, they present very different ideas of what it means to be a hero. This article compares how heroism is portrayed in English and American literary works from earlier periods to modern times. It shows that English literature often presents heroes who value moral duty, social responsibility, and self-control, while American literature tends to focus on individual freedom, resistance to authority, and personal moral choice. Through the analysis of works by writers such as Shakespeare, Dickens, Emerson, Melville, and Twain, the study argues that literary heroes reflect the values and identities of their societies. By placing these heroes in their historical and cultural contexts, the article demonstrates that heroism is not a fixed or universal idea, but a changing concept shaped by national experience and cultural development.