BYU Theatre Education Database



Tragic HeroThe tragic hero is the main character (or protagonist) of a tragedy.According to Aristotle a tragic hero must be noble or royal. A tragic hero is better-than-average, but not perfect.In a tragedy the tragic hero always experiences a misfortune as a result of a tragic flaw.A tragic hero is often punished greater than his crime.To be a tragic hero, the character must learn or discover something very important as a result of their misfortune or fall.Tragic HeroThe tragic hero is the main character (or protagonist) of a tragedy.According to Aristotle a tragic hero must be noble or royal. A tragic hero is better-than-average, but not perfect.In a tragedy the tragic hero always experiences a misfortune as a result of a tragic flaw.A tragic hero is often punished greater than his crime.To be a tragic hero, the character must learn or discover something very important as a result of their misfortune or fall.“Hamartia”, or Tragic FlawPronounced : “hah – mar – TEE – uh”The hamartia is the tragic flaw that causes the tragic hero’s downfall.Tragic heroes all have tragic flaws to make them more like us.One common tragic flaw is “hubris” (pronounced: hew-bris) and means “great pride” or “arrogance”.The hamartia is usually caused by bad choice the tragic hero makes and not by fate.“Hamartia”, or Tragic FlawPronounced : “hah – mar – TEE – uh”The hamartia is the tragic flaw that causes the tragic hero’s downfall.Tragic heroes all have tragic flaws to make them more like us.One common tragic flaw is “hubris” (pronounced: hew-bris) and means “great pride” or “arrogance”.The hamartia is usually caused by bad choice the tragic hero makes and not by fate.CatharsisPronounced: “cuh – THAR– siss”Aristotle did not want tragedy to leave people depressed by the story. Catharsis cleanses the audience of sad emotions like pity and fear that come from the play.Catharsis means a cleansing or purging of emotion.Catharsis is what the audience feels after the tragic hero has learned the important lesson from his downfall.CatharsisPronounced: “cuh – THAR– siss”Aristotle did not want tragedy to leave people depressed by the story. Catharsis cleanses the audience of sad emotions like pity and fear that come from the play.Catharsis means a cleansing or purging of emotion.Catharsis is what the audience feels after the tragic hero has learned the important lesson from his downfall. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download