Tragic Hero

Geoff Rushlau

http://fc.sad57.k12.me.us/
 The Tragic Hero Defined
• Of high standing
and importance
• Displays traits the
reader/audience
can connect with
• Possesses a fatal
flaw that brings
about demise

http://fineartamerica.com
 Embodiment: Macbeth
• Thane of Glamis
• War hero
• Expresses and experiences curiosity,
doubt, surprise, stress, etc.
• Overpowering ambition
 The Fall of the Hero
• A culmination of events that, over
time, come together in an
unfortunate conclusion for the
character
• Macbeth:
– Rampant murder and deceit results in
the survivors rallying against him
– He is beheaded (quite effectively
dethroned)
 Catharsis Defined
• A great realization, usually
existential
• A culmination during which all the
puzzle pieces fall into place
Catharsis’ Effect in Tragedy
• The cathartic moment is the final
component of the “quantitative parts”
of Tragedy described by Aristotle:
Recognition
– Revelation through memory, reasoning, or
incidents
• Evocation of pity and fear
• The essence of tragedy
 Macbeth’s Catharsis
• “I have lived long enough. My way of life
is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf, and
that which should accompany old age, as
honor, love, obedience, troops of friends,
I must not look to have, but in their stead
curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor,
breath which the poor heart would fain
deny and dare not.” (Macbeth 5.3.26-33)
 Works Cited
Aristotle, and S H Butcher. "The Poetics of
Aristotle." N.d. Treatise.
Carter, Ron. “Defining Tragedy: Aristotle.” In Life
and Literature. VCCS, n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2010.
<http://vccslitonline.cc.va.us/‌tragedy/‌aristotle.ht
m>.
Leech, Clifford. The Critical Idiom: Tragedy.
Routledge, 1969. PDF file.
 Works Cited Pictures
Bates, Matthew. Apoxyomenos. N.d. Fine Art
America. Web. 3 Feb. 2010.
<http://fineartamerica.com/‌featured/‌apoxyome
nos--greek-statue-matthew-bates.html>.
Bleeding Eyes Statue. N.d. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb.
2010.
<http://fc.sad57.k12.me.us/‌~Abigail_Asciola/‌Oe
dipus%20the%20King%20Web%20Page>.
Aristotle’s Poetics
Scott Chubb

http://www.press.uchicago.edu
 Tragedy
• 6 basic parts (in order of importance)
– Plot
– Character
– Thought
– Diction
– Song
– Spectacle
 Plot
• Sets down structure for plot
• Beginning and end
• Length and beauty
• Caution against misplaced events
 Types of plots
• Simple
• Complex
– Better
• “Plots are either Simple or Complex,
for the actions in real life, of which
the plots are an imitation, obviously
show a similar distinction.” (Aristotle)
• Tragedy vs. Comedy
 Fear and Pity
• Two emotions that should be inspired
in audience
– Signs of a good tragedy
• Can be aroused by the spectacle, but
better if by the plot
 Characters
• “Tragedy is the imitation of an
action, and of the agents mainly with
a view to the action.” (Aristotle)
• Must be believable
 Influence
• Renaissance
– Castelvetro
– Humanism
• France
– Art of Poetry
 Works Cited
• Aristotle, and S H Butcher. "The Poetics of Aristotle." N.d. Treatise.
• Cook, James Wyatt. "Poetics." Encyclopedia of Ancient Literature. New
York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts
On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAncL0426&SingleRecord=True (accessed
February 2, 2010).
• Cook, James Wyatt. "Poetics." Encyclopedia of Renaissance Literature.
New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference
Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= ERL035&SingleRecord=True (accessed
February 2, 2010).
• Halliwell, Stephen, and Robert Forman. "The Poetics of Aristotle:
Translation and Commentary." Magill’s Literary Annual. 197. Literary
Reference Center.
  Web. 2 Feb. 2010. <http://search.ebscohost.com/
   login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=MOL0300302993&site=lrc-live>.
 Works Cited Pictures
• Cover of Aristotle's Poetics. N.d. The
University of Chicago Press. Web. 3
Feb.
2010.
<http://www.press.uchicago.edu/
presssite/metadata.epl
mode=synopsis&bookkey=3638778
>.