Qualities of a Greek Tragic Hero

Frayer: Tragic Hero

Tragic Hero

Characteristics of a tragic hero: Major Four

Position: ( notes)Tragic Flaw: (notes)Reversal: (notes)Recognition: (notes)

Vocabulary:Peripetea:Hamartia:Catastrophe: Catharsis:

Three Great Greek Tragedians: Other Characteristics

Tragic Hero He discovers his fate or outcome has been brought about his own actions. His story should arouse fear and pity from the audience. Ideally, he is a leader of men He suffers more than what we think he might deserve. The character is normally good and nearly perfect except for the tragic

flaw. Both internal & external forces can lead to downfall May involve Hubris Error, mistake, or moral defect

“ Wrong Act” * Circumstances outside of personality and beyond one’s

control “ Misunderstood Acts” * Acts that overtake & thwart the hero’s intentions * Thus, virtue can lead to destruction

Tragic Hero Recognizes who/what he is at the end

▪ Recognizes what is happening ▪ Moment change occurs ( peripeteia )

leads to recognition Peripeteia: Sudden Change of fortune

Three Great Greek Tragedians:--Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.)--Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)--Euripides (480-406 B.C.)

Ideas of tragedy comes from Aristotle; he recorded his theories in his book Poetics

Four Characteristics of a Tragic Hero POSITION: The hero is royal or noble with great power, usually a king.

He is a good, respected man who acts out of good intentions. He has much to lose.

TRAGIC FLAW (Hamartia). In spite of his good intentions, the hero makes a tragic error which causes his reversal. The error usually stems from a character flaw, usually pride.

Hamartia: Tragic Flaw

REVERSAL (Catastrophe). Because of his tragic error, the hero suffers a downfall from his happy, envied position to suffering and misery.

Catastrophe: a sudden and widespread disaster , any misfortune, mishap, or failure

RECOGNITION (Catharsis). The hero realizes that his own flaw or error has caused his reversal. This recognition always occurs too late for the hero to prevent or escape his reversal.

Catharsis: An emotional release

Work Citied "Aeschylus." Aeschylus. Web. 8 Feb. 2010.

<http://www.slideshare.net/sstuckey/aeschylus>.

"Greek Tragedy." Http://faculty.musowls.org/Sheltont/Literature/HO(TragicHero).htm. Web. 8 Feb. 2010. <http://faculty.musowls.org/Sheltont/Literature/HO(TragicHero).htm>.