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Multimedia Hero Analysis
How are heroes depicted in music, art, and literature?
In this 9-12 lesson, students will analyze the positive character traits of heroes as depicted in music, art, and literature. They will gain an understanding of how cultures and societies have produced folk, military, religious, political, and artistic heroes. Students will create original multimedia representations of heroes.
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Lesson Content
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Identify character traits common to heroes, and recognize qualities that are exceptional in certain heroes.
- Compare heroes from many diverse cultures.
- Discuss how heroes can be any type of person who has accomplished an inspiring action.
- Collaborate to create a working definition of a hero.
- Examine works of art, literature, and music that depict historical, legendary, or contemporary heroes.
- Research and gather information about a piece of art depicting a hero, including the style, medium, and time period in which this hero was depicted.
- Design and create a presentation on a hero.
- Present information and findings to an audience.
- Write an expository essay.
Standards Alignment
Recommended Student Materials
Editable Documents: Before sharing these resources with students, you must first save them to your Google account by opening them, and selecting “Make a copy” from the File menu. Check out Sharing Tips or Instructional Benefits when implementing Google Docs and Google Slides with students.
- Hero Quotes
- Hero Discussion Questions
- Slide: Deeds of Heroic Figure
- Criteria for Success: Depictions of Heroes
Websites
Teacher Background
Teachers should be familiar with composers who were inspired by the conflict between heroes and villains. For more information, review the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Salute the Heroes resource and Notes on the Romantic Hero in Classical Music. Print and hang Hero Quotes around the classroom.
Student Prerequisites
Students should read Exploring the Function of Heroes and Heroines in Children's Literature from Around the World and review the poetic form, Epic.
Accessibility Notes
Modify handouts and give preferential seating for visual presentations. Allow extra time for task completion.
Engage
- Begin this lesson by reading a well-known account of a hero and heroic action, such as a Greek myth.
- Using this character as an example, have the class begin to draft a list of the characteristics and qualities of a hero that were presented in the story. Widen their concept of a hero by guiding the discussion to talk about heroes from areas such as politics, religion, history, folktales, and art.
- Brainstorm a list of as many heroes as possible and then create a grid with the heroes on one axis and the characteristics on the other. Check off the qualities as they apply to each hero.
Build
- Break students into cooperative learning groups. Instruct the groups to create a working definition of a hero. Encourage them to use the Hero Discussion Questions to facilitate their thinking.
- Have each of the groups present their findings to the class. Keep a running list of traits that were most common amongst the groups, and of the most unusual adjectives and descriptions for a hero. Lead the students in a group discussion of the variety of types and qualities of heroes.
- Introduce different works of art and music depicting deeds of heroic figures from the Slide: Deeds of Heroic Figures. Comment on the various examples presented, identifying styles of art, media, historical periods, composition, and interpretation of the subject matter.
Apply
- Have students find one example of a hero depicted in art or music. Review the Criteria for Success: Depictions of Heroes prior to having students research and gather information on a heroic art piece.
- Allow students time to complete their research and create a presentation using presentation software like Google Slides, Prezi, or Powtoon. Encourage students to add voiceover, music, or to screencast their presentation.
- Groups will present their piece of art or music to the class. Engage students in a post-presentation discussion or Q&A session.
Reflect
- Assess students' knowledge with an expository essay about a real-life hero. They can select someone from the lesson or choose their own hero, subject to approval.
John Williams
John Williams - “Star Wars” (Main Title)
John Williams - “Summon the Heroes”
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Original Writer
Maggie Hepworth
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Original Writer
Daniella Garran
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Editor
JoDee Scissors
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Updated
November 20, 2021
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Sources
Related Resources
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Collection Language & Literary Arts
How do fables and myths explain the unknown and preserve cultures? What makes a good story? How do plays comment on societal issues? Grab a pencil and prepare to create original poems, experience the Civil War through letters, and parse symbolism and metaphor in this exploration of language arts.
Media Summon the Heroes
Throughout the ages, composers have celebrated the accomplishments of famous heroes through music. What does a hero sound like? Get ready to find out!
Composer and Conductor
John Williams
Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning
Eric Friedman
Director, Digital Learning
Kenny Neal
Manager, Digital Education Resources
Tiffany A. Bryant
Manager, Operations and Audience Engagement
Joanna McKee
Program Coordinator, Digital Learning
JoDee Scissors
Content Specialist, Digital Learning
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