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.