1. THE TRAGIC HERO

2. ARISTOTLE’S IDEA Aristotle wrote about the tragedy in his book Poetics He has six main ideas about tragedy (Look for how these ideas apply towards Macbeth)

3. 1. GREATNESS Tragic hero is a character of noble stature and greatness Occupies “high” status, but also displays nobility and nature

4. 2. NOT PERFECT Although considered great, the tragic hero is not perfect This allows mortals (us) to relate to the tragic hero

5. 3. DOWNFALL Downfall is partially hero’s own fault because of free will Not accidental or evil Tragedy is caused by an error of judgment or TRAGIC FLAW (oftentimes pride or hubris is this TRAGIC FLAW)

6. PUNISHMENT Hero’s misfortune is not fully deserved The punishment exceeds the crime

7. NOT COMPLETELY LOST Fall is not pure loss Some increase in awareness, gain in self-knowledge, discovery by the tragic hero

8. RESPONSE TOWARDS AUDIENCE Tragedy doesn’t leave audience depressed Aristotle: Function of tragedy is to arouse “unhealthy” emotions of pity and fear to then be cleansed by the tragic hero’s fate, or “catharsis”

9. SOURCE http://vcslitonline.cc.va.us/tragedy/aristotle.htm