thomas carlyle

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

First published 1841
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contents

i
Lecture I. The Hero as Divinity. Odin. Paganism: Scandinavian Mythology.
We have undertaken to discourse here for a little on Great Men, their manner of appearance in our world's business, how they have shaped…
ii
Lecture II. The Hero as Prophet. Mahomet: Islam.
From the first rude times of Paganism among the Scandinavians in the North, we advance to a very different epoch of religion, among a very…
iii
Lecture III. The Hero as Poet. Dante: Shakspeare.
The Hero as Divinity, the Hero as Prophet, are productions of old ages; not to be repeated in the new. They presuppose a certain rudeness…
iv
Lecture IV. The Hero as Priest. Luther; Reformation: Knox; Puritanism.
Our present discourse is to be of the Great Man as Priest. We have repeatedly endeavored to explain that all sorts of Heroes are…
v
Lecture V. The Hero as Man of Letters. Johnson, Rousseau, Burns.
Hero-Gods, Prophets, Poets, Priests are forms of Heroism that belong to the old ages, make their appearance in the remotest times; some of…
vi
Lecture VI. The Hero as King. Cromwell, Napoleon: Modern Revolutionism.
We come now to the last form of Heroism; that which we call Kingship. The Commander over Men; he to whose will our wills are to be…