what's your definiton of a hero? do you think the three boys prove themselves heros accodring to your defintionthe three boys are dally ponyboy and...

In my mind, a hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice himself with no hesitation for the good of someone else.  I do believe that each of the three characters named qualifies as a hero.

Even despite any other events that take place in the book, the boys' reactions to the fire at the church near Windrixville qualifies each of them as heroes.  Ponyboy charges into the burning church based on the sheer knowledge that there are children inside, which is heroic even if he feels responsible for the disaster.  Johnny follows Ponyboy into the fire, then shoves him toward the window, putting himself last, when the building begins to collapse.  Dally first puts out the fire on Ponyboy's back, then goes into a collapsing, burning building to save Johnny, and gives no thought to his own well-being.  Those three individual acts make each of the boys a hero.

There are other examples throughout the novel that provide more material upon which to base the belief that Dally, Johnny, and Ponyboy are heroes.