1. A Tragic Hero
“A man doesn’t become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.” – Aristotle

2. Remember this…
Tragic hero = protagonist who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her downfall
Noble in nature (has a good side), like all heroes
Evokes pity, sympathy from the audience
Discovers his/her fate by own actions, not due to outside forces

3. Modern Tragic Hero Based on Aristotle’s Tragic Hero archetype
Not necessarily a person of high estate, but rather an “ordinary person”
Does not necessarily have to die
Story may not result in an epiphany of awareness or even come to a resolution of catharsis
A.K.A. “Anti-Hero”

4. New stuff!
Now copy down these 5 “stages” or characteristics specific to a TRAGIC Hero’s Journey
Write down only as much of the description of each stage as you need to understand/remember it

5. Noble Beginning/Birth
“Noble” from birth (not necessarily royal but possess noble character traits)
Generally looked at with favor
Destined for greatness

6. Identification of Tragic Flaw
The flaw in their character that will ultimately lead to the downfall
Ex: Hubris, greed, obsession, addiction, mistrust, uncertainty, selfishness, follower, lack of patience, rashness/thoughtlessness
Not always understood/accepted by the hero but often noticed by others

7. Reversal of Fortune Brought about by hero’s error in judgment
Prosperity ends, turns into misfortune
Leads to character’s fate

8. Moment of Enlightenment
Moment of understanding
He/she finally understands what he/she has done wrong—how he/she contributed to the tragic situation
Often ends with feelings/thoughts of anxiety, alienation, self-doubt

9. Destruction Fate must be greater than deserved
Not always, but often ends with death of tragic hero
Death usually is not a pure loss, because it results in greater knowledge and awareness.

10. Final Reading Check
By yourself, identify what you think are the specific points in the novel where Okonkwo hits each stage of the Tragic Hero’s Journey. Please give a description of part of the story and why you think that fits the stage best. Bonus points for page number references at each stage. (1Noble beginning/birth, 2Tragic Flaw, 3Reversal of Fortune, 4Moment of Enlightenment, 5Destruction)