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What does it mean to be a hero? Does it mean that the person have to have super human abilities, and in return, be a hero? In “A Mystery of Heroism,” by Stephen Crane, this question is explored. In this story, we read about Fred Collins, who is a union solider in the Civil War. He is a simple man who is shameful, childish, and who is thrown into a war that has no place for him. During the course of the story, Collins yearns for a drink of well water located across an active battlefield. Finally, after going against all his inhibitions and judgment, he decides to make the suicidal trip. Collins pulls himself together and starts on his way to reach the well of water. He overcomes all the obstacles he faces surprising himself. “He wondered why he did not feel some keen agony of fear cutting his sense like a knife. He wondered at this, because human