Essay question: 'Heroes must contend with enemies in the world but also with their own personal difficulties.' Do you agree? It is obvious that the heroes fight with enemies in the outside world. What is less understood is that heroes must also contend with their own personal demons. The relationship between internal and external struggles is at the center of this essay. It will be shown that a hero's external struggles actually stem from his internal struggle. Illustrations of this connection are found in the novel Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. The character Ender experiences fear and struggles with bullying. Another example of a hero experiencing both internal and external struggles is found in the poem As the Ruin Falls by C.S. Lewis. Lewis, the protagonist, struggles with his own selfishness as he tries to love his dying wife. In both texts the protagonist's internal trials are intrinsically linked to his external struggles. To understand a hero's interaction with external issues it is important to have a thorough understanding of his internal struggles. The crucial battles of Ender's Game take place in the head of Ender Wiggin. Ender is a closed character: through early difficulties he learned "how to hide everything he felt" (p. 45). The use of “anything” in this sentence is an example of high modality speech. Card uses this speech, along with exaggeration, to emphasize Ender's introverted nature. Short, simple sentences add haste and urgency to Ender's predicament. Card uses diction to create a sense of negativity, using words such as “hate,” “punish,” and “suffer” throughout the novel. Knowledge of Ender's internal struggle helps to understand his external struggles with Bonzzo. There is a bitter irony in itself...... middle of paper ......n Falls' and then in 'and now the bridge is breaking' (Stanza 3) drag the reader into the struggle in time real of the author. All of these literary techniques help us capture Lewis's inner turmoil and see the impact of his inner world on his external relationships. An analysis of the heroes in Ender's Game and As the Ruin Falls demonstrates that they struggle both externally and internally. Furthermore, their internal struggles are proven to determine their external struggles. The internal demons that Ender and Lewis face establish the “battle lines” of their external struggles. Ender heroically perseveres in the face of oppression. It was impossible to escape Lewis's self-imprisonment and so, heroically, he thanks his dying wife for allowing him to love another person. Knowledge of the hero's inner turmoil provides insight into his battles with enemies in the world.