The Hero, The Tragic

Hero, and The AntiHero

The Hero
Traditionally in literature a hero is a character who
possesses a strong moral fiber.
This is a character that seems to always do to
right thing, no matter what the situation.
A hero has a strong conviction, is dynamic, and/or
has a certain magnetism that draws the reader to
him/her.
A hero does not necessarily complete their
journey on their own, but they are the central
character in the story.
A literary hero will complete the traditional Hero
Cycle.

ADVENTURE
THRESHOLD
Step 1The call to adventure
Step 2Crossing the Adventure Threshold
Step 3Supreme Ordeal
Step 4The Return

Tragic Hero Background

A tragic hero is often used in
Shakespearean literature.
This model of a hero may not always be
a good guy.
The tragic hero has made its way into
more contemporary literature because
audiences can relate to them.
A tragic hero follows a twelve step
pattern.

What Defines
Shakespearean
Tragedy?
A Tragic Hero
The Tragic Flaw-Hamartia
Reversal of Fortune
Catharsis
Restoration of Social Order
Denouement

Tragic Hero Traits

The tragic hero is someone we, as an
audience, look up tosomeone
superior.
The tragic hero is nearly perfect, and
we identify with him/her
The hero has one flaw or weakness
We call this the tragic flaw, fatal
flaw, or hamartia

Reversal of Fortune
The fatal flaw brings the hero down
from his/her elevated state.
Renaissance audiences were familiar
with the wheel of fortune or fickle
fate.
What goes up, must come down.

Catharsis
We get the word catharsis from
Aristotles katharsis.
Catharsis is the audiences purging of
emotions through pity and fear.
The spectator is purged as a result of
watching the hero fall.
This is why we cry during movies!

Restoration of Social
Order
Tragedies include a private and
a public element
The play cannot end until
society is, once again, at peace.
This is why the Tragic Hero often
dies!

Tragic Hero Pattern

Step 1 A protagonist of high estate
Step 2 A tragic flaw in character
Step 3 Intrusion of time, sense or
urgency
Step 4 Misreading/Rationalizations
Step 5 Murder, exile, alienation of enemies
and allies
Step 6 Gradual isolation of Tragic Hero

Tragic Hero Pattern

Step 7 Mobilization of opposition
Step 8 Recognition of tragic flaw, too late
Step 9 Last courageous attempt to restore
greatness.
Step 10 Audience recognizes potential for
greatness.
Step 11 Death of tragic hero.
Step 12 Restoration of order.

The Anti-Hero
The concept of an Anti-Hero is often used in
darker literature.
The Anti-Hero is being used more in modern
literature as authors try to portray villains
as complex characters
An Anti-Hero relates to a reader because
the Anti-Hero displays more humanity that
a regular Hero.
Instead of a standard tragic flaw an Anti-Hero
may try to do what is right by using
questionable means.

Anti-Hero Traits
Anti-Heroes can be obnoxious.
Anti-Heroes can be pitiful.
Anti-Heroes can be awkward.
Anti-Heroes can be passive.

Types of Anti-Hero
Some Anti-Heroes may be unable to commit to
traditional values of society.
This type of Anti-Hero distrusts conventional
society.
Another type of Anti-Hero cannot get a break
in life.
He/she will move from one disappointment to
another, their efforts always ending in failure.
The Anti-hero does not always die at the end
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