Today is… Tragic, tragic Tuesday Terms on Tuesday Today is… Tragic, tragic Tuesday

Tragedy: an imitation of a serious action that will arouse pity and fear in the viewer.

Tragic Hero: a character, usually of high birth, neither totally good nor totally evil, whose downfall is brought about by some weakness or error in judgment.

Hamartia: a tragic flaw, weakness of character or error in judgment, which causes the downfall of the hero.

Anagnorisis: recognition or discovery on the part of the hero; change from ignorance to knowledge

Peripeteia: reversal of fortune

Nemesis: fate that cannot be escaped

Catharsis: purgation of emotions of pity and fear which leaves the viewer both relieved and elated.

Traits of a Tragic Hero A tragic hero is a man who has a mixture of good and bad personality traits.  

Traits of a Tragic Hero   · A tragic hero has one major flaw, which is the cause of his downfall.

Antigone TERMS

TRAGIC HERO/ TRAGIC FLAW A tragic hero is someone well-known & prosperous, usually royalty – who suffers a downfall due to their own flaw(s) A hero’s flaw or weakness is called a tragic flaw Modern Examples: Britney Spears Lindsay Lohan & Michael Vick

Situational Irony What actually happens is the opposite of what is expected Example: Michael Phelps drowns in his bathtub.

Verbal Irony Speaker says one thing but means another (like sarcasm) Example: “Whoa, nice haircut!” when you mean the opposite

Dramatic Irony The reader or audience knows something that the character does not know Example: In scary movies, the audience knows the bad guy is around the corner

FOIL Character who serves as a contrast to another character Example: Pretty, sweet Cinderella compared to her selfish, ugly stepsisters

Allusion Reference to something from history or literature that is well known Examples: “The Simpsons” – Homer’s Odyssey Taylor Swift – “Love Story” What a Scrooge! What a Grinch! Taste the forbidden fruit

“Big Ideas” In Antigone

HUBRIS Excessive Pride Examples: politicians, movie stars, athletes

FATE vs FREE CHOICE Is life determined by destiny (already written in the stars) or do people have free choice?

Divine vs Human Law What is more important to obey? Divine laws (based on Religion)? or Human laws (based on Government)? For Example: What if your religion demands you shave your head but local government (like your school) forbids it?

Conscience vs Authority What is more important – to follow your own conscience (sense of right vs wrong) or to obey authority? For example: During WWII, it was against the law to help Jews escape…what would you do? Obey your conscience & risk being arrested (or worse!) to assist the Jews, or play it safe and obey the law?

Traits of a Tragic Hero   · A tragic hero has hubris, or an excessive amount of pride. Hubris also means that the individual is arrogant and is challenging the will of the Greek gods. The tragic hero’s hubris usually causes his tragic fall.

Traits of a Tragic Hero · The tragic hero usually goes on a journey.

Traits of a Tragic Hero   · The tragic hero is an ordinary man, someone whom most people can relate to.

Traits of a Tragic Hero   · The tragic hero almost always falls in the end

Antigone Background

Background King Laios & Queen Jocasta’s news from the oracle about their baby Oedipus kills a man during “road rage” & then goes on to defeat the sphinx & thus, saves Thebes Oedipus is considered a hero & marries the widowed Jocasta A plague = the oracle = a horrible discovery = punishment Creon (Jocasta’s bro) takes over ruling & then passes it on to Jocasta & Oedipus’ sons, Eteocles & Polyneices Eteocles & Polyneices kill one another & Creon takes back over, refusing burial for Polyneices