Quiet Heroes
An Essay Inspired by TKAM
By Jennifer Carroll
Pine Point School
8th Grade English
January 25, 2011


(TS) This is an essay of quiet heroes. (SD) You might not recognize the people that are mentioned in this essay, and if you do, it might take you a while to realize how that person is a hero. (CM) They might not have saved the world or wrestled a gun from a mad shooter, but they might have done things just as important. (CM) The people mentioned here aren't in history texts or newspapers but they are heroes, in their own, quiet right.  (CS) I hope you have a better understanding of just how amazing these people are when you've finished reading my essay.
(TS) Tom Robinson, the convicted black man that Atticus fought so hard to free, is perhaps the greatest hero of all. (CM) His kind, quiet way and his pleasure in helping others speaks wonders about him, even if he himself says not a word. (CM) His soundless courage only adds to his status as a hero, because unlike some other champions, he does not brag or ask for anything in return; he simply ambles on. (SD) In the courtroom, no matter how ugly things got, or how much venom was spewed at him, he sat and took it with his head raised and his eyes clear and untroubled. (CM) He didn’t shout back, lose his temper or even strike someone; he held onto his dignity and pride and said not a word to spur on his verbal attackers. (CM) Even Scout admits that,” Tom Robinson’s manners were as good as Atticus’s,” and Atticus is possibly the most gentlemanlike person you could ever hope to meet. (SD) When the mob of Cunninghams came to jailhouse, and faced down Atticus, you knew that Tom must have been terrified. (CM) Atticus was only one man between a hoard of incensed citizens, but Tom stayed in total silence, did nothing besides watch and wait. (CM) Anyone else would have been scrambling to find a way out of that cell in a total panic, but Tom trusted Atticus and kept his cool, despite being able to hear every bit of the conversation that was going on below him, debating his life or death. (SD) Tom Robinson is a polite and gentle man, because even when Mayella,“grabbed (him) ‘round the legs” he tried to push her away in a way that would not hurt her. (CM) His consideration, even when under an attack that could send him to jail, towards the opposite gender shows what a courageous man he is. (CM) Tom Robinson can’t be anything but courageous and brave, because he showed gallantry in times of distress and discomfort. (CS) Even when Tom Robinson knew his fate, knew what white men judged when the evidence was for the black man, he still showed valor and bravery in not cursing out every soul that stood against him and justice.

(TS) My grandmother, a quiet woman with perfectly curled brown hair, is a quiet hero. (SD) Day after day, she cares for my grandfather, who has dementia, Alzheimer’s and other illnesses that cause him to sometimes even forget who my grandmother is. (CM) His watery blue eyes see a different world, and she is there for him every step of the way, no matter what he says or does, because she loves him. (CM) Her silent courage to face every day with him and his rants shows her dedication and ever-lasting love to her husband, an inspiration to us all. (SD) Her unobtrusive manner is not just with her husband, but also with everyone she meets. (CM) At the casino, where she takes my grandfather to while away his days, she is known and respected for her gentle confidence, from the highest roller to the lowest waiter. (CM) She has a way of turning you to see her way in such a subtle manner that you would think you had thought of the idea yourself. (SD) Whether at the casino or at home, Leona Tarasevich is a quiet hero because of the way she carries herself when worries are nagging at her, proud and self-assured, her coifed hair bouncing gently with every step she takes. (CM) The pressures of having an infirm and elderly husband, added to financial troubles don’t show on her lightly lined face. (CM) Her muted heroics at home and around town aren’t evident with her; from the way she walks you would think she was a millionaire. (CS) My grandmother is a quiet hero of the best kind, because no matter how much of the world rests on her frail shoulders, she can always bear it with a smile and a hug.
(TS) There are many quiet heroes in the world; some in books and movies, living only through actors interpretations, while others belong in reality. (SD) Some are strong and muscled, others are frail; some are blond, others are brunette, and the differences goes on and on. (CM) However, whether they be similar to Tom Robinson or my grandmother, all are alike and connected in one way. This lone similarity is what gives their places in entertainment and what makes them special in the real world. (CS) Quiet heroes aren't ordinary, they're amazing, even if they never speak of their quiet heroics.

Self Assessment: I would give myself a B+ on this essay. I really like my work here, and think that I gave good detail and followed all of the requirements on this assignment. I believe my weak point to be that some of my sentences, when looked over more closely, might run on or not make sense because I'm so focused on getting to my point that I rush a little.