Hiccup's Ordinary World

Hiccup is under pressure to become a "Hero":
masculine and powerful

"Hiccup spent the whole of the winter on Berk in various states of 'very cold,' ranging from 'fairly chilly' to 'absolutely freezing.' At night, too many layers were considered sissy, so Hiccup generally lay awake for a couple of hours until he had shivered himself into a light sleep."

-Cressida Cowell, How To Train Your Dragon: Book 1 80

My new book is How To Train Your Dragon: Book 1 by Cressida Cowell. The protagonist, Hiccup, is the 10-year-old heir to the chiefdom of the Hairy Hooligans, a Viking tribe. His ordinary world is living on the bleak, cold Isle of Berk in a harsh society where "Heroism" is prized most. The Heroes of his tribe are like ancient Greek Heroes: masculine and powerful. Hiccup is neither, but his peers, tribe, and family pressure him to embody their idea of "Hero". If he fails his tests, he will be exiled. In the words of a tribe elder:

"'The Hairy Hooligan Tribe has no use for FAILURES. Only the strong can belong.'"

-Cressida Cowell, How To Train Your Dragon: Book 1 9

Despite struggling in this society, Hiccup is terrified of exile. Not only would he die living without his tribe, but deep down, he hopes that he can be the Hero everyone wants him to be, so his ordinary world would be a pleasant place to live. He doesn't want this chance taken away.

Image source:
A back like this isn't built by repeating your favorite lat pulldown routine for years on end. Digital image. T NATION | The Intelligent and Relentless Pursuit of Muscle. Testosterone, LLC, 1998-2010. Web. 18 Dec. 2011.