The Hero, The Tragic Hero, and The Anti-Hero

The HeroTraditionally 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 1 The call to adventure 

 Step 2 Crossing the Adventure Threshold

 Step 3 Supreme Ordeal 

 Step 4 The 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 to—someone 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 Aristotle’s katharsis.

‘Catharsis’ is the audience’s 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 of a text

Back to the Text

Step 1: Get into a group of 5-6 people

Step 2: Assign one person to be the scribe for your group

Step 3: Answer the following questions with textual support and analysis from acts 1 and 2 from Othello

Who is the Tragic hero?

Is there a hero?

Is there an anti-hero?