Name Name – Nisha Dhiman. A– Nisha Dhiman. ASubjectSubject – Literary Theory & Criticism: – Literary Theory & Criticism:

Western – 1Western – 1Topic Topic – Tragic Hero – Tragic Hero

Roll NoRoll No – 32 – 32 SEMSEM – 1 – 1

PartPart – M.A – M.ASubmitted toSubmitted to – Department of English – Department of English

Bhavnagar UniversityBhavnagar University

Introduction Introduction Aristotle was born in 384 BC in stagirus, in Aristotle was born in 384 BC in stagirus, in

peninsula. peninsula. Aristotle gave the definition of the tragedy in Aristotle gave the definition of the tragedy in

his ‘‘Aristotle’s poetic’’. his ‘‘Aristotle’s poetic’’. The tragic hero is a six part of the The tragic hero is a six part of the

characteristic of the way, and they have a characteristic of the way, and they have a very simple or new idea of the tragic hero. very simple or new idea of the tragic hero.

Definition of TragedyDefinition of Tragedy ‘‘ ‘‘Tragedy, then, is a process of Tragedy, then, is a process of

imitating an action which has serious imitating an action which has serious implications is complete, and implications is complete, and possesses magnitude; by means of possesses magnitude; by means of language, though a course of a pity language, though a course of a pity and fear completing the purification of and fear completing the purification of such emotions.’’such emotions.’’

What is a Tragic hero?What is a Tragic hero? A great or virtuous character in a A great or virtuous character in a

dramatic tragedy who is destined for dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat:downfall, suffering, or defeat:

‘‘ ‘‘ Oedipus, the classic tragic hero.’’Oedipus, the classic tragic hero.’’

Characteristic of the Tragic HeroCharacteristic of the Tragic Hero Tragic Hero is a six part of the Tragic Hero is a six part of the

characteristic of the.characteristic of the. First is a character of Nobel structure First is a character of Nobel structure

or high state position or there are a or high state position or there are a very ideas part of the Tragic Hero.very ideas part of the Tragic Hero.

The action of the character are a The action of the character are a realistic or magnitude of the Aristotle. realistic or magnitude of the Aristotle.

Tragedy always happens, if the Tragedy always happens, if the character has any evil, too much character has any evil, too much goodness, over confidence. goodness, over confidence.

It is a always like a serious, sad, It is a always like a serious, sad, happy, and they are a higher happy, and they are a higher categories of the of a tragic hero.categories of the of a tragic hero.

Tragic Hero is a very emotional, pity Tragic Hero is a very emotional, pity and they does belong to upper class and they does belong to upper class people. people.

There are a applied to a Greek There are a applied to a Greek Dramas. It is a like to Hamartia. Dramas. It is a like to Hamartia.

The meaning f HamartiaThe meaning f Hamartia The stagirite uses the second in The stagirite uses the second in

our passage of poetic. It is, then a our passage of poetic. It is, then a ‘‘Tragic Error, wrong action committed ‘‘Tragic Error, wrong action committed in ignorance of its nature, effects. in ignorance of its nature, effects. Which is the starting point of a Which is the starting point of a connect to events ending in disaster. connect to events ending in disaster.

The Tragic HeroThe Tragic Hero

Accordingly, Aristotle says that the tragic Accordingly, Aristotle says that the tragic hero with most effectively evoke both hero with most effectively evoke both our pity and our forger if thoroughly our pity and our forger if thoroughly evil.evil.

But a mixture of both ; and also that the But a mixture of both ; and also that the tragic effect will be, stronger if the hero tragic effect will be, stronger if the hero ‘ Better than we are’ in the sense that ‘ Better than we are’ in the sense that four he is high moral worth. four he is high moral worth.

The Tragic Hero accordinglyThe Tragic Hero accordingly moves in to pity because, moves in to pity because, since he is not an evil man, since he is not an evil man, his misfortune is greater his misfortune is greater form in deserves; but he form in deserves; but he moves us also to fear’moves us also to fear’ because we recognize because we recognize similar possibility error similar possibility error in our own lesser andin our own lesser and fallible sallies. fallible sallies.

Thank youThank you