Tragic Hero anyway 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 fo ID: 622298
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Slide1
So… what is a
Tragic Hero
anyway?Slide2
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.Slide3
Characteristics of a Tragic HeroSlide4
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 qualitiesSlide5
Also called the
Hamartia
Traditional fatal flaw is
hubris
, or excessive pride
Flaw ultimately leads to hero’s downfall, often death
Possesses a Fatal FlawSlide6
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 fall
from noble position
Fate is controlled by flawSlide7
May be injured, or may suffer losses of family or fortune
Wounds are not entirely deserved
Must be physically or spiritually wounded by experiencesSlide8
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 deservesSlide9
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
choiceSlide10
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 natureSlide11
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 fearSlide12
Tragic Hero Pattern
Step 1 – A protagonist of high estate
Step 2 – A
tragic flaw in character
Step 3 – Intrusion of time, sense or urgency
Step 4 – Misreading/RationalizationsStep 5 – Murder, exile, alienation of enemies and alliesStep 6 – Gradual isolation of
Tragic HeroSlide13
Tragic Hero Pattern
Step 7 – Mobilization of opposition
Step 8 – Recognition of
tragic flaw, too late
Step 9 – Last courageous attempt to restore greatness.
Step 10 – Audience recognizes potential for greatness. Step 11 – Death of tragic hero.
Step 12 – Restoration of order.