Characteristics of a Tragic Hero

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Characteristics of a Tragic Hero
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Aristotles Tragic Hero

• Aristotle was one of the greatest philosophers of
  Ancient Greece.
• Aristotle used examples from the works of famous
  Greek playwrights such as Sophocles to illustrate
  his main ideas.
• A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is
  serious and also, as having magnitude, complete
  in itselfwith incidents arousing pity and fear,
  wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these
  emotions.

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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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Possesses a Fatal Flaw

• Also called the Hamartia
• Traditional fatal flaw is typically hubris, or
  excessive pride
• Flaw ultimately leads to heros downfall, often
  death

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Reversal of Fortune

• First enjoys privileged life (remember noble
  birth!)
• Flaw causes a reversal of fortune called the
  Peripeteia (perip?'te?)
• Downfall seems moreimpressive due to fallfrom
  noble position

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An Imperfect Hero

• Has outstanding quality or greatness, but
  audience must identify with him
• Without imperfections,downfall would seem
  improbable or caused by fate only

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Downfall is a result of both fate and free will

• Hero discovers his true identity and the reality
  of his situation. Moment of realization is called
  anagnorisis.
• The hero's downfall is partially his own fault,
  the result of free choice

• The gods also are somewhat responsible for the
  hero's fall.

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Punishment Outweighs the Crime

• May be injured, or may suffer losses of family or
  fortune
• Wounds are not entirely deserved

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Downfall arouses pity or fear

• Audience feels pity for hero because flaw is not
  his fault, so downfall seems undeserved
• Audience feels fear because they can identify
  with heros thoughts and actions
• Through the arousal of pity and fear, we can
  purge these unhealthy emotionsthis is called
  catharsis
• Waitthis could happen to me!