So… what is a Tragic Hero anyway?
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So… what is aTragic Hero
anyway?
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Tragic Hero Background“A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.”
-Aristotle
The tragic hero is a man of noble stature. He is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding
quality and greatness about him. His own destruction is for a greater cause or principle.
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Characteristics of a Tragic Hero
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Born of Noble Birth• Typically a king or member of the royal
family• Someone that normal people would “look
up to” or admire – has outstanding qualities
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• Also called the Hamartia• Traditional fatal flaw is hubris, or
excessive pride• Flaw ultimately leads to hero’s downfall,
often death
Possesses a Fatal Flaw
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• First enjoys privileged life (remember noble birth!)
• Flaw causes a reversal of fortune called the Peripeteia
• Ultimate fate is a downfall, often death
• Downfall seems moreimpressive due to fallfrom noble position
Fate is controlled by flaw
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• May be injured, or may suffer losses of family or fortune
• Wounds are not entirely deserved
Must be physically or spiritually wounded by
experiences
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• Downfall or death is usually seen as a waste of human potential
• Suffering always has greater meaning, often related to the flaw
Suffers more than he deserves
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• Actions result in an increase of self-awareness and self-knowledge
• Fate is discovered by his own actions, not things happening to him
Bears no responsibility for flaw, only for actions
influenced by flaw
• Downfall is a result of free choice
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• Has outstanding quality or greatness, but audience must identify with him
• Are YOU perfect?
• Without imperfections,downfall would seem improbable or caused by fate only
Imperfect or “human” despite noble nature
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• Audience feels pity for hero because flaw is not his fault, so downfall seems undeserved
• Audience feels fear because they can identify with hero’s thoughts and actions
“Wait…this could happen to me!”
Downfall arouses pity or fear