Heroes – Robert Cormier Key Quotations

Chapter 1 – page 1 “My name is Francis Joseph Cassavant and I have just returned to Frenchtown in Monument and the war is over and I have no face.” Establishes the setting Introduces narrator in first person Surprising statement creates mystery

Chapter 1 – page 1 “Oh, I have eyes… but no ears to speak of, just bits of dangling flesh. But that’s fine, like Dr Abrams says… He was joking, of course.” Conversational style of address Creates a close bond between the reader and the narrator

Chapter 1 – page 1 Description of Francis’s physical injuries. Described in a matter-of-fact way Creates sympathy in the reader – but does Francis expect this? Makes the reader want to know why he looks like this

Chapter 1 – page 2 “But not having much success” and “I don’t blame them” Francis has low self-esteem and lacks confidence Presented as single-sentence paragraphs to draw attention to them

Chapter 1 – page 3 “This was proof that the scarf and the bandage were working in two ways: not only to hide the ugliness of what used to be my face, but to hide my identity.” Why is Francis trying to hide? Creates mystery Francis believes he is ugly

Chapter 1 – page 4 “I thought of Nicole Renard, realizing I had not thought of her for, oh, maybe two hours.” First mention of Nicole Suggests Francis may be in love with her Makes the reader ask questions

Chapter 1 – page 4 “She had always been generous when I did her errands and her tips paid for my ten-cent movie tickets at the Plymouth on Saturday afternoons.” Francis knows Mrs Belander from before the war In a first reading, the Plymouth seems unimportant

Chapter 1 – page 4 “At that moment, I knew that I was really anonymous, that I wasn’t Francis Joseph Cassavant anymore but a tenant in Frenchtown.” Why does Francis want to be anonymous? Contrasts with the opening sentence

Chapter 1 – page 5 “I was home again in Frenchtown. I thought of the gun hidden away in my duffel bag and knew that my mission was about to begin.” What is Francis’s mission? Why does he have a gun? Creates mystery and suspense

Chapter 1 – page 5 Francis briefly mentions his dead father and mother, and younger brother. This is one of the few times they are mentioned in the novel Why doesn’t Francis talk about them more often? He wants to forget the past

Chapter 1 – page 6 “Then I am filled with guilt and shame, knowing that I just prayed for the man I am going to kill.” Francis frequently feels guilt and shame This section emphasises his religious feelings Statement creates dramatic tension

Chapter 1 – page 7 “‘You’re a big hero,’ he said. ‘A Silver Star hero.’” This is the first reference to being a hero in the novel The reader wonders why Francis has been awarded the Silver Star

Chapter 1 – page 7 “I am not a hero, of course, and I turn away in disgust.” Francis has low self-esteem Why doesn’t he believe he is a hero? Why does he say “of course”?

Chapter 1 – page 7 “And even though I am home from the war, I wonder if I will ever see her again.” The chapter ends on a cliff-hanger Where is Nicole? What happened to her?