Summary
"Special Hero" is a heartfelt poem by Christina M Kerschen that celebrates the unconditional love between a child and a father. The poem is written from the perspective of a child who recalls being held in the father's arms as a baby, feeling safe, loved, and protected. The child expresses deep gratitude for having such a loving father and considers the father's love to be a divine blessing sent from above. The poem culminates with the child declaring the father as a "special hero" and emphasizing that their love is everlasting.
The parallel reading poem "Only a Dad" by Edgar Albert Guest complements the main poem by presenting the father's perspective. It portrays a hardworking, ordinary father who endures daily struggles, toils without complaint, and silently bears life's hardships -- all for the love of his family. Despite being "neither rich nor proud," the father is celebrated as "the best of men" for his selfless dedication to his children.
Themes
- Unconditional Paternal Love: The central theme of both poems is the boundless, selfless love of a father for his children. The father's love is described as special, divine, and everlasting.
- Gratitude and Appreciation: The child in "Special Hero" expresses deep gratitude for having a loving father, feeling lucky to have been given such a parent.
- Safety and Protection: The father is portrayed as a protector who keeps the child safe from harm, holding the child tenderly in his arms.
- Divine Blessing: The father's love is seen as something heavenly -- "sent to me from someplace up above" -- suggesting it is a gift from God.
- Silent Sacrifice: In "Only a Dad," the theme of quiet, uncelebrated sacrifice is prominent. The father works tirelessly, faces hardships without complaint, and bears the "whips and scorns of life" for his family.
- Heroism in Ordinary Life: Both poems elevate the ordinary father to the status of a hero, showing that true heroism lies in everyday acts of love and sacrifice.
Literary Devices
- Alliteration: "something special" -- the repetition of the 's' sound creates a soft, affectionate tone.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem uses rhyming couplets such as "arms/harm," "eyes/see" (near rhyme), "me/me," "love/above," "know/so" to create a musical, song-like quality.
- Imagery: "you would hold me in your arms" and "I would look up into your eyes" create vivid visual pictures of the tender bond between father and child.
- Hyperbole: "Our love is everlasting" uses exaggeration to emphasize the permanence and depth of the father-child bond.
- Metaphor: The title "Special Hero" is a metaphor comparing the father to a hero, elevating his role beyond the ordinary.
- Rhetorical Question: "How did I get so lucky" is a rhetorical question that expresses wonder and gratitude rather than seeking an answer.
- Repetition: In "Only a Dad," the phrase "Only a dad" is repeated at the start of each stanza (anaphora), emphasizing the theme of humble heroism.
- Personification: In "Only a Dad," life is personified as something that delivers "whips and scorns," giving abstract struggles a physical quality.
Character Analysis
- The Child (Speaker in "Special Hero"): The speaker is a loving, grateful child who deeply appreciates the father's care. The child recalls the warmth and safety of infancy and openly expresses love and admiration for the father. The child sees the father as divinely chosen and wants to acknowledge him as a hero.
- The Father (Special Hero): Though the father does not speak in the poem, he is characterized through the child's memories and feelings. He is tender, protective, and loving. His eyes radiate love, and his arms provide safety. He is the "special hero" -- not for grand deeds, but for consistent, gentle care.
- The Father in "Only a Dad": Edgar Albert Guest portrays the father as an everyman -- tired, hardworking, and ordinary in the eyes of the world. Yet he is extraordinary in his selflessness. He endures life's cruelties silently, never complaining, driven purely by love for his children. He is "the best of men."
Glossary
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tenderness | Noun | Gentleness and kindness |
| Everlasting | Adjective | Lasting forever or a very long time |
| Special | Adjective | Different from what is usual; exceptional |
| Harm | Noun | Physical or emotional injury or damage |
| Hero | Noun | A person who is admired for courage, achievements, or noble qualities |
| Plodding | Verb | Working slowly and steadily at a dull task |
| Strife | Noun | Conflict, struggle, or hard effort |
| Whimper | Noun/Verb | A soft, weak cry or complaint |
| Condemn | Verb | To express strong disapproval; to criticize harshly |
| Stern | Adjective | Serious and firm; strict |
| Grim | Adjective | Very serious or harsh; determined despite difficulty |
| Surging | Adjective | Moving powerfully forward like a wave; a large crowd |
| Brood | Noun | A group of young children in a family |
| Rejoice | Verb | To feel or show great joy and happiness |