First, tell how your model and the original are connected to one another. What background do I need to fully understand the model? What were the hardest and easiest parts of this project? If you had a do-over, what might you do differently? What letter grade would you assign yourself? TEXT MODELING REFLECTION
Aristotle defined tragedy as “the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself” It incorporates “incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish the catharsis of such emotions.” ARISTOTELIAN DEFINITION OF TRAGEDY
The tragic hero will most effectively evoke both our pity and terror if he is neither thoroughly good nor thoroughly evil but a combination of both. By evoking our pity or terror, we experience a catharsis or our own emotions. THE TRAGIC HERO
The tragic effect will be stronger if the hero is “better than we are,’ in that he is of higher than ordinary moral worth. Such a man is shown as suffering a change in fortune from happiness to misery because of a mistaken act, to which he is led by his hamartia (his “error in judgment”) or, as it is often literally translated, his tragic flaw. TRAGIC HERO CONTINUED
One common form of hamartia in Greek tragedies was hubris, that “pride” or overweening self- confidence which leads a protagonist to disregard a divine warning or to violate an important law. TRAGIC HERO CONTINUED
A tragic hero has the potential for greatness, but is doomed to fail. He is trapped in a situation where he cannot win. He makes some sort of tragic flaw, and this causes his fall from greatness. Even though he is a fallen hero, he still wins a moral victory, and his spirit lives on. DEFINITION
Tragic Heroes Are Born into nobility Responsible for their own fate Endowed with a tragic flaw Doomed to make a serious error in judgment DEFINITION CONTINUED
Eventually, Tragic Heroes Fall from great heights or high esteem Realize they have made an irreversible mistake Faces and accepts death with honor Meet a tragic death
For all Tragic Heroes The audience is affected by pity and/or fear.
Apply these tragic hero characteristics to Othello. Does he fit all aspects of the Tragic Hero? Which characteristics does Othello best embody? Which characteristics (if any) are absent or minimized? Come to class prepared to discuss this topic – questions to further discussion and opinions SUPPORTED BY TEXTUAL evidence will be the key to a successful Socratic Seminar. FOR SOCRATIC SEMINAR BLOCK DAY
Three directions: Main Idea: Highlight for main ideas and important insights. Summarize occasionally (every 2-3 paragraphs) to keep abreast of the information. 2. Question: Write questions or concerns you have in the margins – either questions regarding your own reading experience, or questions regarding the content of this writing. 3. Connect: Connect this introduction to your own reading. In the margins, note where you agree, disagree, or challenge the assertions of the author. Point out where your experience intersects with this article. DIRECTIONS FOR OTHELLO INTRODUCTION