1. heroes introduction_hdo

Heroes by Robert Cormier
Starter:
16th January 2012
What is a hero?
• What makes a person a hero?
• List as many real/fictional heroes as you
can.
• Do the people in your list share any
qualities? What are these heroic
qualities?
• How are heroes treated by others?
• What would you imagine a war hero to
be like?
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

Lesson Objectives
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly
thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas
and judgements;

• Look at these front covers for the novel ‘Heroes’
• What do you think this story is about?
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and
judgements;

A little bit about the author
1925: Robert Cormier born 17 January in Leominster, Massachusetts,
USA
1939: Start of the Second World War in Europe
1941-2: Studies at Leominster High School, then Firchburg State
College
1945: USA enters the war after Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour
1945: USA drops first atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki;
Second World War ends
1948: Marries Constance Senay
1948-78: Begins work as a journalist eventually becoming editor of the
Fitchburg-Leominster Sentinel and Enterprise
1974: Publication of first novel for young adults, The Chocolate War
1998: Heroes published
2000: Dies on 2 November
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and
judgements;

The book we are going to read is called ‘Heroes’
so that is something to keep in mind as we read.
The book is set in ‘Frenchtown’, a small town
based upon Robert Cormier’s home of
Leominster in Massachusetts.

Leominster today

Heroes, however, is set between 1940
and 1945
What else happened during this
time?

Learning check – how are you getting on?
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas
and judgements;

Attach the character sheet to your
folder

• Draw a picture of the main character Francis
Joseph Cassavant based on the description
given to us in his own words.
• Label his injuries (appearance).
• Underneath mind map other important things
e.g. he was a soldier, personality aspects
Heroes – Pages 1-2

Literary Devices
Description
Dialogue Action
3 techniques Cormier uses to create character =
Description, Action and Dialogue.
Look out for these as we continue reading.

Let’s read the rest!
As we read make notes on:
Language e.g first/third person narrative? Short or long sentences?
Characters
Structure e.g past or present tense? Linear or non-linear?
Setting
Themes e.g. love?

Narrative Structure
• Heroes is written in the first person
perspective of its central character Francis
Cassavant.
• How is the opening sentence “The war is over
and I have no face” dramatic?
• Why has Cormier used first person? How does
it affect the reader’s relationship with Francis?
• How does Francis see himself? How do others
see him?

Attach the
setting sheet to
your folder
This marks all the
key places in the
book

St Jude’s Church
Robert Cormier has chosen to introduce St Jude’s Church in the opening
chapter to emphasise that there is a moral and religious dimension to the
novel. Throughout the novel the central character, Francis Cassavant,
returns to the church at times of stress. In chapter 1 his visit to the church
appears to evoke memories of his childhood and perhaps provides him with
a sense of security. He prays for his dead parents and his friend Enrico
Rucelli.
Francis then thinks back to the words of his teacher: “pray for your enemies,
for those who have done you hard” (p.6). He has a strong awareness of the
rights and wrongs of his behaviour. He refers to his sense of guilt as he prays
for the man he intends to kill (p.7). The planned murder is now his only
purpose in life. It is also clear that he believes he has no future.

Chapter One Summary
Francis describes in stark and brutal detail his ______ sustained
during the war, and how after the war he came to lodge with
Mrs ______ in _______ where he lived as a boy. He visits the
______ and says prayers for various important people in his life;
thus we are introduced to some major and minor characters:
______ , his mother and father, whom we learn are dead, and
______ Renard and Larry ______ . Tension is created- he states
his intention of ______ Larry, but at this stage we do not know
why. A ______ to the war introduces the theme of heroism-
Francis has a ______ Star Medal, although he refuses to believe
himself heroic – and reveals his ______ for Nicole.
LaSalle Frenchtown Enrico Belander church injuries
Nicole killing flashback Silver love
Copy this in to your books

Chapter 1
1 Why do you think so many physical details are mentioned in the first page?
2 Why doesn’t the doctor have much success in developing Francis’s sense of
humour (page 2)?
3 ‘I knew that my mission was about to begin’ (page 5) marks a beginning. Up to
this point, how has the writer suggested details from Francis’s past life?
4 In the section beginning ‘Later, I light a candle in St Jude’s Church’ (page 5), the
writer introduces the other time periods in the book. How does he do this?
5 In this first chapter, what is revealed about Francis’s feelings about Larry and
Nicole?
6 What is suggested in the first chapter about the events in the rest of the book?

Narrative, Language and Detail
The scene is set very clearly and in a shocking way. The use of Francis
as a narrator establishes a relationship with the reader. Francis sees
himself as an outsider, beyond normal society and normal emotions.
He talks about his condition in a detached and unemotional way which
contrasts sharply with the details he describes.
Francis does not want to be recognised even thought he is in his home
town. He is pleased Mrs Belander hands him a receipt marked
“Tenant”.
The text is full of references to the destruction of physical appearance.
There are references to pain, missing limbs, blindness, disfigurement.
The destruction of Francis’ face is the destruction of his identity, which
is something that he welcomes. These references contribute to the
atmosphere of despair which develops as narrative unfolds.
CheckpointWhy do you think it is
important to Francis to
remain anonymous?

Examiner’s tip: writing about the shadow
of war
The matter of fact way in which Francis describes his injuries emphasises the nature of war.
He hides them in order to protect other people from their shocking reality. He tells the
reader he likes to think that the scarf he wears to hide his face makes him look like a First
World War hero. Nowhere else in the novel does he talk about himself as a hero.
Before going to bed, Francis studies his face in the mirror and thinks back to conversations
he had about his injuries with his friend Enrico and also Dr Abrams, the doctor who treated
him. During the flashback account of his conversation there are references to the pain
caused in war.
It is obvious that Francis’s experiences in the war have been defining moments in his life.
He will carry the consequences with him forever.
The readtion of his landlady, Mrs Belander, sums up the attitudes of many people towards
Francis: “Poor boy” (p.3). How do you think France would vies such a reaction? Would he
want to be pitied?

Grade Booster
Writers often introduce characters and
reveal the themes of a text in the
opening chapter. It can be useful to
refer to the opening chapter in an
examination answer.

Why is this chapter important?
A The opening sentence ends with the shocking words,
“the war is over and I have no face” (p.1). This indicates the
power of a first-person narrative and provides a dramatic and
striking beginning to the novel which immediately engages
the reader’s interest.
B It is clear that the narrative will focus on the
relationships between three characters – Francis, Larry and
Nicole.
C We are told Francis intends to kill Larry, but we have no
idea why or what might have occurred to make Francis feel
this way.
D We see that the action takes place in the shadow of
war.

You should have the following about
Francis Cassavant:
ex-soldier
18 Lives....
Parents
injuries mission

Heroes
2. What do you think Francis’ personality is like? What
makes you think that? Try to use phrases from the
novel to support your thoughts.
You could start it.
‘I think that Francis Joseph Cassavant is a …’
3. Why do you think he wants to kill Larry LaSalle?

Where has Francis Cassavant come
from?
Watch this clip from Forrest Gump (1994) and
this clip from Saving Private Ryan. Pay close
attention to the brutality of war but also the
comradeship...

Images of war...

Why did the USA join the war?
Watch this clip
Who has seen the film Pearl Harbour?
What did the Americans do to the Japanese?
Homework:
Go to my blog:
http://mrshammondheroes.blogspot.co.uk/ and research the
bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki:
• How many people were killed directly?
• How many were killed or injured through radiation?
• What percentage of the city was completely destroyed?
• How big was the area the bomb destroyed?

This poster was designed to encourage
young men to enlist in the army.
- What devices/techniques does it
use to persuade men to join up?
- Explain the effectiveness of the
image in terms of font, colour,
language.
- Look at
http://mrshammondheroes.blog
spot.co.uk/ for more images

Key Quotes from Chapter 1
Quotation Page Explanation
People glance at me in surprise
and look away quickly or cross the
street.
2
The pale purity of her face
reminded me of St Thérèse.
8
Copy out the table and explain what each quotation tells us and its significance to the
novel.

Reflecting on my learning: copy out the skill you
need to work on the MOST at the moment.
Part 1: When studying the novel ‘Heroes’, I need more
practise...
1. Describing and explaining characters personalities
2. Understanding the links between the themes and
characters
3. Using a quotation that matches my point
4. Identifying and exploring language techniques
5. Explaining and commenting on narrative
techniques
6. Interpreting the messages within the story

1. heroes introduction_hdo

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