ARISTOTLE’S
DEFINITION OF A
TRAGIC HERO
384-322 B.C.
(WRITTEN 2,300 YEARS AGO!)
SIX TRAITS
Aristotle (384-322 BC):
Greek philosopher and
scientist. The most famous
of ancient philosophers and
tutor of Alexander the Great.
His ideas about tragedy were
recorded in his book of
literary theory titled Poetics.
In it, he explains the
structure, purpose, and
intended effect of tragedy.
His ideas have been adopted,
disputed, expanded, and
discussed for several
centuries.
It is important to remember
that the term “hero” when
discussing tragedy does
not refer to someone who
is necessarily “heroic.”
Hero instead means simply
“main character.”
1
THE HERO MUST BE NOBLE
STATURE AND HAVE GREATNESS
OF SOME SORT. HE OR SHE
MUST BE FROM A HIGH SOCIAL
STATUS, AND MUST HAVE
NOBILITY AND VIRTUE AS PART
OF HIS OR HER CHARACTER.
2
THOUGH THE TRAGIC HERO IS
GREAT, HE OR SHE CANNOT BE
PERFECT. THE AUDIENCE NEEDS
TO SEE HIM/HER AS SOMEONE
WHO IS ESSENTIALLY LIKE “US”.
3
THE HERO’S DOWNFALL IS
WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY
HIS/HER OWN FAULT. IT IS
USUALLY DUE TO AN ERROR
IN JUDGMENT.
4
USUALLY, THE CHARACTER’S
TRAGIC FLAW IS DUE TO
“HUBRIS” OR EXCESSIVE
PRIDE OR ARROGANCE .
5
THE HERO’S MISFORTUNE IS
NOT WHOLLY DESERVED – THE
PUNISHMENT IS WORSE THAN
THE CRIME.
THE PUNISHMENT CANNOT BE
PURE LOSS – THE HERO
LEARNS SOMETHING FROM
THE EVENTS.
6
THOUGH IT MAKES THE
AUDIENCE SAD, THE FATE OF THE
HERO SHOULD NOT LEAVE THE
AUDIENCE DEPRESSED.
THE FUNCTION OF TRAGEDY IS
TO LEAVE THE AUDIENCE WITH A
FEELING OF “CATHARSIS” OR A
CLEANSING OF EMOTIONS.
YOUR TASK
1. Decide for yourself whether Antigone or Creon is the
tragic hero of the play Antigone.
2. Create a diagram (example on next slide) that proves
your choice by using evidence from the story. You must
have six pieces of evidence.
3. Diagram is due on WEDNESDAY at the beginning of
class.