Tragic Hero Voicethread Presentation! "A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall." ~Aristotle What is a tragic hero? The tragic hero is a man of noble stature with outstanding quality and greatness about him whose destruction, as a result of his own flaw, is for a greater cause or principle. Common Characteristics of a Tragic Hero. Noble birth or high standing (king, warrior, wealthy, etc). Has a tragic flaw (known as hamartia)that eventually leads to his downfall. Experiences a reversal of fortune brought about by the hero's tragic flaw (called peripeteia). His actions result in an increase of self-awareness and self-knowledge. The audience must feel pity and fear for this character. The hero's downfall is his own fault as a result of his own free choice, but his misfortune is not entirely deserved, which allows the audience to feel sympathy or pity. Some tragic flaws which result in such a downfall are: excessive pride (hubris), excessive greed, excessive ambition, excessive love, etc… The modern-day tragic hero. In the Modernist era (late 19th and early 20th century), a new kind of tragic hero was created out of the definition of a "classical " tragic hero. The modern tragic hero can be an "ordinary person," his or her tragic story may or may not result in a moment of awareness or even catharsis for the tragic hero, and he or she may not even die! Death can often be more metaphorical- as in isolation, imprisonment, loss, divorce, etc…