What does it mean to be a hero? The journey of Eowyn and heroism in fantasy

I still remember my huge disappointment with The Lord of the Rings back when I was a wee thing of fourteen. In fact it might have been the biggest disappointment of my young life, which should tell you something about the kind of sheltered life I led.

( Some spoilers for LotR, but seriously what rock were you living under? )

In many ways Éowyn's journey is my own, and that of many others who went from self-importance to self-acceptance. Physical and social power may overlap with but can't be the entirety of heroism, which is in the end the willingness to be bound and to serve. The word "hero," after all, shares a root with "serve," and "heroism" means courage exhibited in fulfilling a high purpose or attaining a noble end. And the question of what makes for a high purpose or noble end is one we have to answer throughout our lives as tellers and consumers of story--that is to say, as human beings.