Tragic Hero

By Josh Zucker

What is a tragic hero?

• A man of noble stature.

• Not an ordinary man, but a man of quality and greatness.

• His own actions lead to his demise.

• His own destruction is for a greater cause of principal.

Examples of Tragic Heroes

• Anakin Skywalker - Star Wars

• Daedalus and Icarus

• Oedipus Rex

• Romeo and Juliet

• Barry Bonds

• Ben’s Father - After The First Death

Focal Questions

• What is the character’s situation in the beginning of the story?

• What is the character’s tragic flaw? What mistake does the character make?

• How does the character experience a reversal by the end of the story?

Romeo

• Why is Romeo a tragic hero?• His passion for Juliet ultimately ends in his death.• Entire book is series of events leading up to Romeo’s

demise. • Book ends with Romeo poisoning himself over Juliet. • “For never was there a story of more woe than than this of

Romeo and Juliet.” Prince - P. 243

“Eyes, look your last. Arms take your last embrace. And lips, O, you The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A dateless bargain to engrossing death.” Romeo - P. 227

Tragic hero in After The First Death

• Benjamin’s Father• Used to have a very important position serving his

country.• Because he was so sure that his operation would

succeed, it was what lead to his downfall.• “We didn’t anticipate that they would not release

you. We didn’t anticipate that Artkin would have time to shoot you. It was computerized as a minimum risk.”

Daedalus & Icarus

• Daedalus and his son Icarus lived on the island of Crete

• Daedalus built two pairs of wings made of wax so himself and his son could escape by flying away from the island.

• “Daedalus warned his son not to fly too close to the sun, as it would melt his wings, and not too close to the sea, as it would dampen them and make it hard to fly.” Thanasis.com/icarus

• Icarus did not listen to Daedalus’ words resulting in his death.

Oedipus Rex

• Play written by Sophocles.• Oedipus is a great king whose life falls apart when

he finds out his fate. • His meaning in life is to kill his father and marry

his mother.• By trying to avoid his fate he unknowingly has

already full filled the prophecy.• After realizing this he gouges his eyes out and

sentences himself to exile.

Star Wars

• Anakin Skywalker• Helped win the war, got the girl, saved his master

many times.• His fatal flaw was that he feared losing the people

he cared about, which fed a hunger for power to prevent the loss from happening.

• This need for power eventually turns him to the dark side and he becomes Darth Vader.

Barry Bonds

• Once beloved home run record holding baseball player.

• Found guilty of steroid use to enhance performance on the field.

• Looses his large fan base as a result of cheating.• "I never asked. When he said it was flaxseed oil, I

just said, 'Whatever.' It was in the ballpark ... in front of everybody. I mean, all the reporters, my teammates, I mean they all saw it. I didn't hide it."-- Dec. 4, 2003

Conclusion

• All the characters discussed share common traits of a tragic hero.

• A man of noble stature.• Not an ordinary man, but a man of quality

and greatness.• His own actions lead to his demise.• His own destruction is for a greater cause of

principal.