Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[lioness]

Who are your national "heroes"? I mean some characters who are thought to be paragons of virtue- you know, you should follow their example. Polish literary heroes are people who actually failed to do something. There is one guy who wants to kill a tzar (Russian tzars ruled one part of Poland for 123 years) and... he faints. Well, everything is very complicated, summarizing- he wasn't able to do that what he planned. Nevertheless teachers of Polish (at least those who I knew) say, that he was a hero.
So, who's your national literary heroe?
_________________
Młodości, dodaj mi skrzydła... Youth, give me wings...

[pingpong]

Excuse me, but I don't understand all what you say. So, who is the hero of Poland. If he faints, why is he a hero?

[lioness]

That's why it is mad He is considered as a hero, because he tries. It isn't important that at finally he completely fails. You know, my friends weren't able to understand too.
There is another one, who becames Polish enemies' commander. As a result of his commandments those enemies are defeated. Is he a hero? No, he isn't. Why? My teacher told me that he fought undercover and inspite of the fact that finally Poles won because of his help, he cannot be called a hero. He wears a mask and real heroes don't do it- they attack their enemies with shining swords in daylight. They don't use tricks, they don't hide their faces and names, don't pretend to be someone different.
My friends and I don't think like that, yet I wrote what is taught in Polish schools. I wonder if other countries have so strange literary heroes, or those who made success deserve to be called this name?
_________________
Młodości, dodaj mi skrzydła... Youth, give me wings...

[pingpong]

I think he is also a hero. Who helps a country will be the hero of this country, no matter how he does it.