Oprah Winfrey By: Janai Frasier

1. How do we define the personality traits of a hero? We define a hero as courageous, selfless, brave, somewhat fearless, and above all just a good person. A person of distinguished abilities that is admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities (“hero”)

How do the setting, conflicts, and antagonists influence the development of literary heroes? In order to be a hero there has to be some conflicts and antagonist, otherwise there would be no need for a hero. The setting can alter how the hero is needed and what they have to do. For example Oprah has built a school for girls in Africa, she did this because Africa is a very poor country and girls in particular really don’t have the opportunity to go to school. She helped by providing a safe educational zone for girls. They don’t need to worry about where their next meal is coming from, taking care of siblings, or having enough water ("Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy For Girls.“).

A short little biography on Oprah I will discuss Oprah’s life and mainly her childhood, how her mother lived in the city working as a cleaning lady. Oprah living on a farm with her grandmother. The trauma of being sexually abused and promiscuous as a teenager. After being sent to live with her father she went back to the books. She was the first black teenager to win the Tennessee beauty pageant. She started to host her own radio show and daytime talk show. She became the first African American billionaire to host, direct, and produce her own show (“Oprah Winfrey’s Official”).

Oprah’s childhood AS a young girl Oprah grew in a farm during the time period were racism and segregation was strong. She lived with her grandmother and learned to read at age 3 (“Oprah Winfreys offical”). Her Life changed for the worse when her grandmother died and had to live with her mom in the city. She was abused repatedly by family members and another outsider while her mom was out at work, she had to keep this a secret from her (“Oprah Winfreys offical”).

How does a Oprah represent her time period and geographical area? Since Oprah is living in a time period where college is very expensive and essential so that people can succeed in life she has her very own scholarship. She gives certain students enough money to Attend college. This scholarship is almost like a secret that not many people know about. For this reason a student must be attending a school that the Oprah Winfrey foundation has already donated to (“Oprah Winfrey scholarship”).

Oprah’s school for girls in Africa Oprah Winfrey has opened up a school for girls in Africa called the Oprah Winfrey leadership Academy. This school is for girls in Africa who don’t really have the opportunity to go to school. At this school the girls don’t have to worry about caring for their family members or where their next meal is going to come from, it’s a safe educational zone for bright young girls (“Oprah Winfrey Leadership”).

Oprah’s diet After overcoming so much in her life, Oprah has also overcame obesity. She was 25 pounds overweight and sought out many dietarians and nutritionist to come up with the “Oprah Diet”. The Oprah Diet consists of eating 2 fruits a day, eating all the green vegetables you want (9 daily servings), Eat a “rainbow” (different colored foods, eliminate processed carbohydrates, and no cookies or cakes (“Ebscohost: turning”).

All of Oprah’s achievements making her a hero Through thick and thin Oprah has been through it all, which is why some would consider it odd that Oprah still uses her hard earned money to help others and give back. One would think that she would be selfish and care about her self and being famous and having money and spending it all on herself. She could have just bought clothes and expensive cars and houses. She didn’t have to build a school for girls in Africa, or pay for people to go to school, or give her studio audience brand new cars just because, she didn’t have to do any of that but she did it because she cared.

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