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Which kinds of heroes did Thomas Carlyle discuss in On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History?
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Thomas Carlyle
Carlyle, detail of an oil painting by G.F. Watts, 1877; in the National Portrait Gallery, London
In his 1841 work On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History, Thomas Carlyle explored the concept of the "hero" by categorizing them into six distinct types, each illustrated by historical or mythological figures:12
- Divinities: Figures from pagan myths.12
- Prophets: Exemplified by Muhammad.12
- Poets: Exemplified by Dante Alighieri and William Shakespeare.12
- Priests: Exemplified by Martin Luther and John Knox.12
- Men of Letters: Exemplified by Samuel Johnson, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Robert Burns.12
- Kings (Rulers): Exemplified by Oliver Cromwell and Napoleon Bonaparte.12
Carlyle’s analysis reflected his reverence for strength and his belief that these individuals were driven by a God-given mission to shape history.2