attributes of a tragic hero from ars poetica by aristotle
TRANSCRIPT
Attributes of a Tragic Herofrom Ars Poetica
By Aristotle
Royal Birth
Born into a royal family or class
How did Oedipus have “royal birth?”
Achieves Great Heights
The tragic hero achieves something that sets him above even other royals.
What feat established this for Oedipus? How did he achieve “great heights?”
Tragic Flaw
The Greeks called it “hamartia”--missing the markPerfectly human, forgivable shortcomingA character flaw, not an act or event
Ambition, dishonesty, jealousy
Hubris
The specific “hamartia” of the tragic hero had to be hubrisThe sin of unrelenting prideConceitArroganceThinking you cannot be touched by the gods, fate,
punishment, etc
Evidence of Oedipus’ Hubris Thought he could avoid the prophecy by leaving
Corinth Killed the old man to get his own way Assumed Tiresias was lying Ignored Jocasta’s and the shepherd’s advice to stop
looking for the truth
The Fall
The Hero, who reached such great heights, loses EVERYTHING
Family, fortune, respect
What did Oedipus lose?
Tragic Vision
He comes to see and admit his shortcoming.
How do we know that Oedipus sees his flawed character?
Reversal
The key to true Heroism
The Tragic Hero changes his life
Becomes a humble man Willing to submit to the will of the gods.
Give evidence of Oedipus' reversal.