Characters
Which disfigured World War II veteran returns to Frenchtown seeking revenge?
Who is Francis Cassavant?
What main idea does the book explore about what it truly means to be a hero?
What is that real heroes aren’t always perfect (or that heroism can have many meanings)?
During which major event did Francis earn his war medal?
What is World War II?
In the line “I am not a hero,” which internal struggle does Francis reveal?
What is his guilt (or loss of self-worth)?
Which American author wrote Heroes?
Who is Robert Cormier?
Which girl does Francis love and admire before going off to war?
Who is Nicole Renard?
What does Francis consider himself instead of a hero?
What is a coward?
What honor is Francis awarded for his act of “heroism” during the war?
What is the Silver Star?
How does using first-person narration affect the reader’s understanding of Francis?
What is it helps us feel his inner conflict and trauma?
In which decade was Heroes first published?
What is the 1990s (specifically 1998)?
Which charming youth leader turns out to be the villain of the story?
Who is Larry LaSalle?
What item does Francis use to cover his face and hide his war injuries?
What is a scarf?
What mission does Francis set for himself when he returns home to Frenchtown?
What is to kill Larry LaSalle?
What literary device is shown when Larry’s charm hides his darker nature?
Juxtaposition
Which real-world event deeply influences the characters’ experiences in Heroes?
What is World War II?
Which man ran the Wreck Center, where many young people once gathered?
Who is Larry LaSalle?
What does the Wreck Center symbolize about the loss of innocence in the novel?
What is the corruption or destruction of innocence?
What tragic event causes Nicole to lose her innocence?
What is Larry LaSalle’s assault on her?
What is the effect of Cormier’s use of flashbacks throughout the novel?
What is to reveal Francis’s past gradually and build suspense?
Cormier often wrote about moral conflict and the loss of innocence. What type of tone does this create in his novels?
What is a dark or pessimistic tone?
Which war veteran helps Francis reconnect with the community when he returns?
Who is Arthur Rivier?
Nicole’s experience shows what danger that comes from idolizing someone?
What is the danger of blind admiration (or misplaced hero worship)?
What decision does Francis make at the end of the novel instead of ending his life?
What is to leave Frenchtown and find a new beginning (or see Nicole again)?
The quote “We all have secrets we keep locked away forever” reflects which recurring idea in the story?
What is hidden guilt (or moral ambiguity)?
How does Heroes challenge the traditional idea of what it means to be a hero?
What is it shows that heroes can be flawed, damaged, or morally uncertain (and that heroism can come with guilt)?