Call it Courage by Armtstrong Sperry

What is a literary hero?

• Typically we think of a man with, courage, muscular strength, skilled in hunting, and super masculine.
• Mafatu's character was weak, fearful, did not like to take chances, and was profoundly disappointing in his father's eyes... so much so, that father stopped talking all together.
• Not your typical hero.

What is a literary hero?

• Mafatu's greatest fear was the main source of life in his village- the ocean. It provided the village people with the food they needed to live and thrive. But he was very afraid of the ocean and could not fish with the other men in the village.
• As a result, he was chastised, made fun of that he will never be man enough to take care of a family of his own.

How did Mafatu become so scared of the ocean?

• He and his mother went out to collect food. A storm rolled in and tipped their canoe.
• Mother had just enough strength to drag Mafatu back to shore before she died due to exposure.
• Feeling that he had cheated death, and the sea god, Mafatu has ever since been afraid to go out into the ocean.

Tired of being picked on by the other people in the village, Mafatu takes off in a boat with his only friend, a dog. He is determined to prove his courage to the people in his village, especially his father.

After a dangerous journey, Mufatu ends up on a stranded island...

How does he survive?

• He uses the skills he learned from the women of the tribe to make his shelter, clothing, canoe, weapons, and prepare his food.
• Had he stuck with the men, and then became stranded, he would not have had the skills necessary to survive

Mufatu finds courage from within, not through the praise of others.

Mufatu is a hero because he finds strength within, faces his fears, and challenges the villagers' ideas on what it means to "be a man".