Aristotle’s

Tragic Hero

A General Definition of Tragedy

• Any serious and dignified drama that describes a conflict between the hero (protagonist) and a superior force (antagonist), and reaches a sorrowful conclusion that arouses pity or fear in the audience.

The Tragic Hero• Is not all good or bad

• Is of the noble class or highly renowned and prosperous

• Unwittingly sets forces in motion that will lead ultimately to his/her downfall.

• Endures pathos (scenes of great suffering)

• Audience’s sympathy for/empathy with the tragic hero and his situation must increase as plot unfolds

Tragic Flaw (Hamartia)

• Causes the downfall of the tragic hero

• Can be any (usually negative) trait that is excessive and potentially harmful (such as desire, self-will, pride)

Reversal (Peripeteia)

• Reversal is a change of a situation to its opposite.

• Hero realizes he has erred and accepts the consequences

Recognition (Anagnorisis) • Recognition is a change from

ignorance to knowledge.

• The new knowledge often identifies an unknown relative or dear one whom the hero should cherish but was about to harm or has just harmed.

Catastrophe and Pathos• Catastrophe: scene of death or moral

destruction of the protagonist

• The catastrophe creates the climax of the plot

• Pathos: Scenes of suffering catastrophe also creates pathos.

Boromir as Tragic Hero

• Tragic flaw: – desire to defend people of Gondor/make father

proud/pride/self-doubt

• Reversal: – Frodo? What have I done? Please, Frodo. I’m

sorry!

• Recognition: – Forgive me, I did not see. I have failed you all.

Boromir as Tragic Hero

• Pathos: – Sorrow over trying to take Ring; 3 arrows taken

in defense of Pippin and Merry

• Catharsis: – Audience’s response to Boromir’s death, as

modeled by Aragorn