As a literature expert with a focus on character analysis and narrative structures, I can provide a comprehensive understanding of the term "tragic hero."

A tragic hero is a central character in a tragedy, a type of drama that is intended to arouse pity and fear in its audience, thereby cathartically releasing these emotions. The concept originates from the works of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who outlined the characteristics of such a hero in his work "Poetics."

To be considered a tragic hero, a character typically meets several criteria:


1. Aristocratic Status: Often, the tragic hero is of high birth, a king, or a noble figure, although this is not a strict requirement.

2. Hammered by Fate: They are often the victims of an unfortunate turn of events or circumstances beyond their control.

3. Tragic Flaw: Known as a hamartia, this is a flaw in character that leads to their downfall. It can be a personal flaw such as pride, jealousy, or anger, or it can be a mistake in judgment.

4. Peripeteia: This refers to a reversal of fortune from prosperity to adversity, which is often a direct result of the tragic flaw.

5. Anagnorisis: The hero experiences a moment of recognition or realization, often too late to avert their fate.

6. Pathos: Their situation evokes pity and fear in the audience, and their downfall is not purely evil or deserving of hatred but rather a result of human error or misfortune.
7.
Catharsis: The story of the tragic hero leads to a purging of these emotions in the audience, providing a sense of emotional cleansing.

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A tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction. In reading Antigone, Medea and Hamlet, look at the role of justice and/or revenge and its influence on each character's choices when analyzing any ��judgment error.��read more >>