The Tragic Hero
Hamlet Discussion
Brought to you by
Paul Walters
And
Viv Dalton
Is Hamlet a hero or not?
Discuss and Debate Please
What are the six characteristics a
Tragic Hero must need in order to be
called one?
And they are……..
noble stature and birth
 high status
 who has greatness
 nobility
 virtue
 tragic flaw

The Definition of a Tragic Hero
and Tragedy
A tragic hero is the main character in a tragedy.
The modern use of the term usually involves the
notion that such a hero make an error in their
actions that leads to his or her downfall
Tragedy- “a serious drama typically describing a
conflict between the protagonist and a superior
force (such as destiny) and having a sorrowful or
disastrous conclusion that excites pity or terror.”
Can
you name some other
Tragic Heroes other than
Hamlet?
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Harvey Dent
Anakin Skywalker
Hal Jordan
Wolverine
Dr. Frankenstein
Henry Jekyll
Macbeth

All of these characters
caused there own
downfall, Just as
Hamlet did.
Could there be any other characters
that you could have made their life a
tragedy in Hamlet?
What is hamlets tragic flaw?

Hamlets Tragic Flaw

Reflective and has a cautious nature
Procrastinates
Couldn’t move on from his fathers death
 Couldn’t move on from pretending to be
insane
 Couldn’t ask his Ophelia to get hitched
 Stayed in school, still as a full grown adult

Can you name the six points needed
for a tragedy?
Plot
 characters
 diction
 thought
 spectacle
 melody

Do you know Who Aristotle is?
What did he do?
Aristotle made Contributions to

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Logic
Metaphysics
Mathematics
Physics
Biology
Botany

Ethics
Politics
Agriculture
Medicine
Dance

Theatre
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How do you think Aristotle influenced
the definitions of a tragic hero?
Do you Think Shakespeare was
influenced by Aristotle's knowledge
and works?

Prior to reading Hamlet, did you have a
good understanding of what a tragic hero
was?

Don’t be Glib!
Questions ???
References
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McManus, Barbara . "Outline of Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy in
the POETICS". March 20, 2010
<http://www2.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics.html>.
Merritt, Ed . "Character List Hamlet". Word Press. March 20,
2010 [[<http://kda1.wordpress.com/2007/12/08/characterlist/>.]]
 "Define tragedy". Google. March 20, 2010
<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:tra
gedy&ei=cHqmS67MEoa8lQfmlOTECA&sa=X&oi=glossary_defin
ition&ct=title&ved=0CAYQkAE>.
 MacNeil, Angus. "The Tragedy of Hamlet". Connections. March
20, 2010 http://cnx.org/content/m13552/latest/
 "The Tragedy of Hamlet". Shakespeare. March 20, 2010
<http://www.field-ofthemes.com/shakespeare/essays/Ehamlet5.htm>.