ABSTRACT
Who, precisely, are the heroes to which students point? To what degree do title or responsibility relate in our understanding of heroism? In this chapter we examine heroism in relation to roles and identities through stories students tell. Title may not dictate heroism, but title may well shape it. Student responses are arranged into three categories: family (e.g., moms), mentors and exemplars (e.g., teachers), and strangers. Although it becomes clear that although roles do indeed seem to influence heroic behavior, the kindness of strangers can be particularly moving, particularly heroic.
