Tags
Because of Winn-Dixie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charlotte's Web, Pig saves goat, The One And Only Ivan, Unlikely Heroes
A young pig saves a baby goat
I saw an amazing video clip that touched my heart and made me laugh, all at the same time. You might have seen it too, since I tweeted the YouTube link. It was of a young pig rescuing a baby goat that was flailing in a small pond.
It was remarkable, because of the unlikely friendship (like in the book by that very name), and an even more unlikely hero. Watch the video and see for yourself.
Real-Life can be more amazing than fiction
Since posting this, I’ve seen comments around the web that this video was staged. Some even pointed out how the video had been altered, Photoshopping out a person who was restraining the goat in the water. Looking at the video more closely, I see this could be true. That said, I don’t doubt that the pig jumped into the water to save the baby goat (as shown) when the original situation arose. This video reenacts the event. Pigs are very smart. It’s a great story no matter what!
Unlikely Heroes in Fiction
That video got me to thinking about unlikely heroes in fiction, and how those stories stayed with me. They were stories I would read again and again. Characters such as:
- Charlotte the spider from Charlotte’s Web
- Ivan the silverback gorilla from The One and Only Ivan
- Winn-Dixie the dog from Because of Winn-Dixie
In wondering why these stories had such an impact, I realized that it was because the heroes were so ordinary. I could relate to them (even though they weren’t human), and their actions. As they grew out of ordinariness and into heroes, I followed. Those stories showed me how live as a hero in the real world.
Animals and spiders aren’t the only unlikely heroes. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an ordinary teenager at the beginning of her journey, a cheerleader no less. Most all the superhero origin myths begin with an ordinary person who encounters circumstances that change his or her life in extraordinary ways.
Who’s your favorite Unlikely Hero?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Now for the “52 Reasons to Hate My Father” WINNER!!!
I put the names of everyone who left a comment on the “52 Reasons to Hate My Father” post in a hat, shook it like there was no tomorrow, then reached in and pulled one out…
Maestro, a drum roll please!
*****
*** Tosses copious amounts of sparkly confetti ***
*****
And the winner is…
KIM GRIFFIN
(Happy Dance)
!!!!!!!!!
Elizabeth Fais 
Woo Hoo! Congratulations, Kim!
I somehow missed this video in tweets so am so glad to have caught it now. It’s positively charming (not to mention that it’s impossible not to watch it several times in a row.)
Heroes are not only fun, intriguing,and thoroughly intoxicating, they are oh so necessary. Ordinary heroes even more so. Mostly because most of us are *ordinary* to the naked eye, regardless of what might reside in our soul.
Charlotte is one of my heroes as well. A big shocker, since I really don’t care for spiders AT ALL. No question my affection and appreciation for Charlotte has absolutely made me look at those 6-leggers with new and improved appreciation.
Rocky is another hero that comes to mind. What’s not to love about a regular galoop who goes the distance despite all odds.
The Apostle Paul is an uber awesome and wholly unexpected hero. A zealous and passionate prosecutor of Christians who eventually becomes the most zealous and passionate Christian of all time!
Great post, Elizabeth!
All good mentions for unlikely heroes Barbara. Yeah, spiders were the one thing that totally terrified me when I was young and Charlotte changed that. I still don’t like black widows, but the garden spiders in my yard are all called “Charlotte”. I even don’t mind the daddy long-legs anymore. All the result of the power of a story. By the way, I watch “Rocky” whenever I’ve had a really bad week. It still inspires me!
Elizabeth, I’ve always rooted for Wile E. Coyote.
You’re right Sherry. Wile E. Coyote is an unlikely hero. I never wanted him to “catch” the roadrunner, but I’d root for him to not get smooshed by a falling anvil. 😉
I think ya gotta throw Frodo Baggins into the ring. A short guy with curly hair on his bare feet and a wee sword saves Middle Earth. Go figure.
Oh, and congrats, Kim!
Oh, yeah. Definitely Frodo Baggins. 😀
Yeah, I was going to say Frodo. I think the fantasy genre is rather full of unlikely heroes actually. Maybe that’s why I like it.
I hadn’t thought about unlike heroes with respect to genre. But you’re right Ellen, fantasy does have quite a few. Fantasy has always been a favorite of mine too.
I’m reading The Hobbit with my 12 year-old for the first time so I have to throw Bilbo Baggins out there as an unlikely likeable hero. By the way, the 12 year-old is reading The One and Only Ivan and really enjoying it. Thanks for the recommendation!
Oh, and congrats to you, Kim! 🙂
I agree. Bilbo Baggins has to be on the unlikely hero list, near the top. I always think of Frodo first, because I read the Fellowship of the Ring trilogy before I read The Hobbit. Go figure. I’m glad your 12 year-old is enjoying The One and Only Ivan. It’s a real gem. 😉