The Hero, The Tragic
Hero, and The Anti-Hero
The Hero
Traditionally in literature a hero is a character who
possesses a strong moral fiber.
This is a character that seems to always do to right thing,
no matter what the situation.
A hero has a strong conviction, is dynamic, and/or has a
certain magnetism that draws the reader to him/her.
A hero does not necessarily complete their journey on
their own, but they are the central character in the story.
A literary hero will complete the traditional Hero Cycle.
ADVENTURE THRESHOLD
Step 1 The call to adventure
Step 2 Crossing the Adventure Threshold
Step 3 Supreme Ordeal
Step 4 The Return
Tragic Hero Background
A tragic hero is often used in Shakespearean
literature.
This model of a hero may not always be a “good guy”.
The tragic hero has made its way into more
contemporary literature because audiences can relate
to them.
A tragic hero follows a twelve step pattern.
What Defines Shakespearean
Tragedy?
A Tragic Hero
The Tragic Flaw-Hamartia
Reversal of Fortune
Catharsis
Restoration of Social Order –Denouement
Tragic Hero Traits
The tragic hero is someone we, as an audience, look
up to—someone superior.
The tragic hero is nearly perfect, and we identify with
him/her
The hero has one flaw or weakness
We call this the ‘tragic flaw’, ‘fatal flaw’, or hamartia
Reversal of Fortune
The ‘fatal flaw’ brings the hero down from his/her
elevated state.
Renaissance audiences were familiar with the ‘wheel
of fortune’ or ‘fickle fate’.
What goes up, must come down.
Catharsis
We get the word ‘catharsis’ from Aristotle’s katharsis.
‘Catharsis’ is the audience’s purging of emotions
through pity and fear.
The spectator is purged as a result of watching the hero
fall.
This is why we cry during movies!
Restoration of Social Order
Tragedies include a private and a public
element
The play cannot end until society is, once
again, at peace.
This is why the Tragic Hero often dies!
Tragic Hero Pattern
Step 1 – A protagonist of high estate
Step 2 – A tragic flaw in character
Step 3 – Intrusion of time, sense or urgency
Step 4 – Misreading/Rationalizations
Step 5 – Murder, exile, alienation of enemies and allies
Step 6 – Gradual isolation of Tragic Hero
Tragic Hero Pattern
Step 7 – Mobilization of opposition
Step 8 – Recognition of tragic flaw, too late
Step 9 – Last courageous attempt to restore greatness.
Step 10 – Audience recognizes potential for greatness.
Step 11 – Death of tragic hero.
Step 12 – Restoration of order.
The Anti-Hero
The concept of an Anti-Hero is often used in darker
literature.
The Anti-Hero is being used more in modern
literature as authors try to portray villains as complex
characters
An Anti-Hero relates to a reader because the AntiHero displays more humanity that a regular Hero.
Instead of a standard tragic flaw an Anti-Hero may try
to do what is right by using questionable means.
Anti-Hero Traits
Anti-Heroes can be obnoxious.
Anti-Heroes can be pitiful.
Anti-Heroes can be awkward.
Anti-Heroes can be passive.
Types of Anti-Hero
Some Anti-Heroes may be unable to commit to
traditional values of society.
This type of Anti-Hero distrusts conventional society.
Another type of Anti-Hero cannot “get a break” in
life.
He/she will move from one disappointment to
another, their efforts always ending in failure.
The Anti-hero does not always die at the end of a text
Back to the Text
Step 1: Get into a group of 5-6 people
Step 2: Assign one person to be the scribe for your group
Step 3: Answer the following questions with textual
support and analysis from acts 1 and 2 from Othello
Who is the Tragic hero?
Is there a hero?
Is there an anti-hero?