Name________________________________________Date_______________________
My “Tragic” Flaw
After reading William Harmon and Hugh Holman’s definitions of tragedy and tragic flaw in their
Handbook to Literature, 8th Edition, brainstorm and identify your “tragic” flaw. For example, Macbeth in
William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth states in one of many very famous soliloquies, “I have no spur
/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’ other.”
He clearly recognizes that his ambition goes beyond normal ambition, and it seems to control him, his thoughts,
and his actions. His “vaulting ambition” will be one of many tragic flaws our tragic hero possesses throughout
the play. His ambition ultimately leads to his eventual demise.
Of course, tragic heroes and their tragic flaws are exaggerations of the human psyche. However, we still
recognize a little of ourselves in them. So, keeping in mind that your “tragic” flaw will hopefully not lead to
your demise, what is one downfall you have. Do you procrastinate? Are you pessimistic? Do you lie? Do you
hate? Are you impetuous? Are you naïve? Are you mean? Are you too kind? Do you have apathy? Are you
too much of a perfectionist? Whatever you feel is your most “tragic” flaw jot it down. Next, brainstorm how
this “tragic” flaw negatively affects you and others around you. Finally, decide how you can overcome your
“tragic flaw.” Brainstorm your ideas on this sheet, and turn in at the end of the class period. You will need this
for a future assignment.
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Brainstorming
My tragic flaw is…
I acquired this tragic flaw by…
The four specific ways my tragic flaw negatively affects me and others around me are…
The following are simple and/or complex ways I can overcome/eliminate my tragic flaw: