Tragic Hero

What is it? A tragic hero is a literary character who makes errors in judgment, in his or her own actions, that inevitably leads to his or her own downfall

Traits of a Tragic Hero The hero is led to his downfall due to hubris, or excessive pride.

Traits of a Tragic Hero The hero must be doomed from the start, but bears no responsibility for possessing this flaw.

Traits of a Tragic Hero The hero must have discovered his fate by his own actions, not by things happening to him.

Traits of a Tragic Hero The hero must see and understand his doom, and that his fate was revealed by his own actions.

Traits of a Tragic Hero The hero’s story should arouse pity and empathy.

Traits of a Tragic Hero The hero must be physically or spiritually wounded by his experiences, often resulting in his death.

Traits of a Tragic Hero The hero is usually a king, or leader of men, so that his people experience his fall with him.

Traits of a Tragic Hero The hero should learn from his mistakes.

Traits of a Tragic Hero The hero must be faced with a very serious decision.

Traits of a Tragic Hero The suffering of the hero must have meaning.

Traits of a Tragic Hero The hero of classical tragedies is almost universally male.

Traits of a Tragic Hero A tragic hero’s story generally follows the sequence of “Great, Good, Flaw, Downfall.”