A Wonder Whose Origin is not Known: The Importance of the Orphan Hero in Otherworldly Film

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the importance of the orphan hero in film and his resonance with the American people. It explores the orphan and the American identities, the archetypes found in myths, and the hero in American culture. The three heroes (Batman, Anakin Skywalker, and Harry Potter) represent certain aspects of orphan heroes: the capacity for sacrifice and the need to resist focusing on oneself. The type of hero each becomes has its source in the response he takes to his orphanhood. These young men suffered great loss early in their lives, but found the strength to sacrifice themselves for others, the ultimate sign of a hero.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2007

Author dc:creator

• Callahan, Sarah Francis

Contributors dc:contributor

• Levin, Ben
• Hirsch, Joshua
• McConnell, Judith
• Larke-Walsh, George S., 1965-

• orphan
• superhero
• archetype
• shadow
• lass
• sacrifice
• hope
• love
• Heroes in motion pictures.
• Orphans.
• Batman (Fictitious character)
• Vader, Darth (Fictitious character)
• Potter, Harry (Fictitious character)
• Motion pictures -- United States -- History and criticism.

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Callahan, Sarah Francis
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 174143251
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3694/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc3694

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc3694