1. What is a Tragic Hero? Definition and Notes

2. General Definition A TRAGIC HERO is a person of noble birth who falls from a position of power due to his/her “tragic flaw” (usually pride, greed, or avarice). However, ALL tragic heroes exhibit certain characteristics that you should KNOW.

3. Characteristic One: Nobility The tragic hero is a person of noble birth (a member of royalty), or a person who holds a position of power (a Senator, Ruler, Dictator). Does Brutus possess nobility?

4. Characteristic Two: Condemned and Punished by the Gods This person is fated by the Gods or by some supernatural force to doom and destruction or at least to great suffering. Is Brutus punished by the Gods?

5. Characteristic Three: Tragic Flaw The tragic hero is good, though not perfect, and his fall results from his committing what Aristotle calls "an act of injustice" (hamartia). The hero’s downfall, therefore, is his own fault, the result of his own tragic flaw - it could be a matter of hubris (excessive pride); listening to the wrong people; or perhaps not listening at all. What is Brutus’ TRAGIC FLAW?

6. Characteristic Four: Fate v/s Free Will The tragic hero’s life involves choices (free will) as well as fate (the Gods intervention), thus resulting in a paradox --- Is it Fate or Free Will which is primarily responsible for the suffering in the hero's life? What CHOICE does Brutus make that results in his downfall?

7. Characteristic Five: The Punishment Exceeds the Crime The audience feels that the hero’s misfortune is not wholly deserved; the punishment far exceeds the crime. Punishment is both public (the State) and private (a family tragedy). What is Brutus’ punishment? Does he deserve it?

8. Characteristic Six: Empathy The audience does not come away from tragedy feeling that the hero "got what he deserved." We are, instead, saddened and feel a sense of a waste of human potential. Do you feel empathy for Brutus? Explain.

9. Characteristic Seven: A Tragic End The hero's great suffering, however, is not gratuitous. Through great suffering, the hero is enlightened; he learns about himself and his place in the universe. Does Brutus suffer? How does the play end?

10. IN-CLASS ESSAY TOPIC: Why is Brutus the Tragic Hero in the play Julius Caesar?

11. YOUR ASSIGNMENT You may bring an outline to class with you. You are expected to write a FIVE paragraph essay that clearly answers the assigned question AND has substantial supporting quotations from the text. Preparation is the KEY to success.