On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History

"On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History" by Thomas Carlyle is a series of talks that looks at the idea of heroes through time, likely from the early 1800s. It says that amazing people—heroes—affect how people think and act, which shapes history overall. Carlyle looks at different kinds of heroes, like gods, poets, and leaders, and talks about why people are so interested in worshiping heroes. At the beginning, Carlyle explains that history is mostly about the great men who made it. He points out how important it is to understand the spiritual connection people had with their heroes long ago, using Norse beliefs and Odin as examples. Carlyle brings up worship as a key point, suggesting that we admire heroes because we see them as godlike and capable, which pushes others to want to be great too. The beginning prepares us to further examine how heroism has been seen and celebrated across different times and places.