Bravery (redirected from courage)

Bravery

See also Heroism.

Achilles

foremost Greek hero of Trojan War; brave and formidable warrior. [Gk. Hist.: NCE, 12]

Adrastus

courageous Indian prince; Rinaldo’s enemy. [Ital. Lit.: Jerusalem Delivered]

Agenor

Antenor’s son; distinguished for his valor in battle. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 12]

Bajazet

fierce, reckless, indomitable Sultan of Turkey; Tamerlane’s captive. [Br. Lit.: Tamerlane, Walsh Modern, 39]

Beowulf

singlehandedly fights firebreathing dragon. [Br. Lit.: Beowulf]

Birch, Harvey

at great risk spies on British. [Am. Lit.: The Spy]

black agate

makes athletes brave and invincible. [Gem Symbolism: Jobes, 45]

black poplar

symbol of bravery. [Plant Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 176]

Boadicea (Boudicca)

British queen and female warrior; slew 80,000 Romans. [Br. Hist.: Walsh Classical, 58]

Bold Beauchamp

14th-century champion; British generic for warrior. [Br. Hist.: Walsh Classical, 49]

Breck, Alan

while evading enemies, risks his life to save others. [Br. Lit.: Kidnapped]

bull

heraldic symbol of courage. [Heraldry: Halberts, 21]

carp

a pictorial symbol of bravery. [Chinese and Jap. Folklore: Jobes, 292]

Clorinda

Amazonian, battles in armor. [Ital. Lit.: Jerusalem Delivered]

David

audaciously stands before and slays Goliath. [O.T.: I Samuel 17:48–51]

French willow

indicates courage. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 178]

Fritchie, Barbara

her bravery impressed Stonewall Jackson. [Am. Lit.: “Barbara Fritchie” in Hart, 57]

Gawain

bravery in the Castle of Wonders. [Arth. Legend: Parsival]

Hale, Nathan

(1755–1776) Revolutionary war hero, calmly accepted fate. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 215]

Havelok

right makes might as gallant prince triumphs. [Dan. Lit.: Havelok the Dane]

Hawkeye

scout and woodsman who risks his life to save English girls from hostile Indians. [Am. Lit.: Cooper The Last of the Mohicans in Magill I, 494]

Hector

captain and chief hero of Trojan forces. [Rom. Lit.: Aeneid; Metamorphoses]

Horatius

holds off Etruscan forces while Romans burn bridge. [Rom. Hist.: Livy]

Iron Cross

German medal awarded for outstanding bravery in wartime. [Ger. Hist.: Misc.]

Joan of Arc, St

. peasant leader of French rout of British. [Christian Hagiog.: Attwater, 187]

larch

symbol of bravery. [Tree Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 175]

Medal of Honor

highest American military decoration for wartime gallantry. [Am. Hist.: Misc.]

Nicephorus, St.

layman voluntarily executed to prevent priest’s apostasy. [Christian Hagiog.: Attwater, 249]

Pitcher, Molly

(1744–1832) took husband’s place in battle during American Revolution. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 393]

Profiles in Courage

John F. Kennedy’s anthology of biographies of brave statesmen. [Am. Lit.: Profiles in Courage]

Purple Heart

U.S. medal awarded to those wounded in military action. [Am. Hist.: Misc.]

red badge

symbol of the conquest of fear. [Am. Lit.: Red Badge of Courage]

Richard the Lion-Hearted

(1159–1199) romantic warrior-king renowned for his bravery and prowess. [Br. Hist.: Bishop, 49]

Roland

brave French hero of medieval chansons de geste. [Fr. Lit.: NCE, 2344]

Samson

strong, brave judge of Israel; strength was in his hair. [O.T.: Judges 13–16]

St. Paul

as a missionary he fearlessly confronts the “perils of waters, of robbers, in the city, in the wilderness.” [N.T.: II Cor. 11:26]

Theseus

displays bravery in facing Minotaur; against Procrustes. [Gk. Myth.: Odyssey; Metamorphoses]

Victoria Cross

highest British military award for valor. [Br. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 1129]

York, Sergeant Alvin

(1887–1964) hero of WWI; captured hundreds of Germans. [Am. Culture: Misc.]