Aristotle’s Tragic Hero

The qualities of the tragic hero:• The tragic hero is of high noble stature and has greatness.• The tragic hero has a tragic flaw, usually excessive pride

known as HUBRIS.• The tragic hero, because of his tragic flaw, experiences a

REVERSAL OF FORTUNE (a big fall).• This big fall brings out feelings of pity and fear in the

audience, called a CATHARSIS.• The Tragic Hero experiences a moment of SELF

AWARENESS--he/she REALIZES the errors of their tragic flaw and their RESPONSIBILITY for the tragic consequences of their actions.

High or noble status

• The tragic hero is of high birth or noble status or some other kind of greatness.

• This causes the audience to realize that if tragedy can happen to the great and powerful, it can happen to anyone.

• The fall from greatness is also much more dramatic, due to the magnitude of the change.

The Tragic Flaw

• The tragic flaw in the hero is some emotion or character quality that is usually good in a person’s character in measured amounts, such as pride.

• The flaw is in the fact that this quality is excessive in the tragic hero.

• Excessive pride is called HUBRIS.• The tragic flaw causes the tragic hero to make

critical mistakes that lead to disaster.

The Reversal of Fortune

• The tragic hero, due to his or her tragic flaw, experiences a REVERSAL OF FORTUNE.

• A reversal of fortune, also known as a big fall, is a tragic loss of everything important to the character.

• This loss is much more dramatic in someone famous or powerful, since it it such a great loss.

The Catharsis

• Because of the tragic nature of the loss of everything, the audience feels FEAR AND PITY for the tragic hero.

• Aristotle says that this cleansing release of the negative emotions of fear and pity is healthy, known as a CATHARSIS.

• The function of this catharsis in Greek Tragedy is to help the people get those negative feelings out of their system.

Realization of Error

• The Tragic Hero realizes that his/her tragic flaw has caused all the tragic events of the story.

• The Tragic Hero usually has some kind of breakdown at the realization of the reversal of fortune he/she has experienced.

Some examples of the Tragic hero

• Romeo and Juliet.• Oedipus• Come up with some modern examples of “a

real life tragic hero.”

Review: The Qualities of the Tragic Hero

• High status or noble birth:

Excessive Pride

Reversal of Fortune

The Big Fall

Catharsis

Self-Realization