Turning heroes into symbol resources

Abstract

Heroes and heroic stories have always been present in the lives of human beings. Heroes are people with noble qualities, who exceed what is expected of them, and are recognized through their outstanding achievements. They have served as a symbol of inspiration, good will and courage to those around them. These heroes have taken many forms, some forming part of mythologies from all around the world, some as religious figures, and nowadays, they can be seen in the form of superheroes in fictional stories. During recent years, superheroes have gained so much popularity that they have become a part of our daily lives. We are being bombarded with superhero comics, movies, television series, cartoons and goods on a daily basis. Children are thus becoming accustomed to these superhero stories. One therefore starts to question whether such fictional heroes can influence children and leave an impact on their lives. By researching the available literature, studies and findings, and by building a systematic review of literature, I was able to find an answer to the central research question “How can Marvel and DC superheroes positively impact children through their stories?” together with the compound questions of “Why is the use of heroic characters important in the education of children?” and “Can children learn and develop morals through Marvel and DC superhero stories?”