Attributes of a Tragic Hero from Ars Poetica By Aristotle

Royal Birth  Born into a royal family or class  How did Oedipus have “royal birth?”

Achieves Great Heights  The tragic hero achieves something that sets him above even other royals.  What feat established this for Oedipus?  How did he achieve “great heights?”

Tragic Flaw  The Greeks called it “hamartia”--missing the mark  Perfectly human, forgivable shortcoming  A character flaw, not an act or event  Ambition, dishonesty, jealousy

Hubris  The specific “hamartia” of the tragic hero had to be hubris  The sin of unrelenting pride  Conceit  Arrogance  Thinking you cannot be touched by the gods, fate, punishment, etc

Evidence of Oedipus’ Hubris  Thought he could avoid the prophecy by leaving Corinth  Killed the old man to get his own way  Assumed Tiresias was lying  Ignored Jocasta’s and the shepherd’s advice to stop looking for the truth

The Fall The Hero, who reached such great heights, loses EVERYTHING Family, fortune, respect

What did Oedipus lose?

Tragic Vision  He comes to see and admit his shortcoming.  How do we know that Oedipus sees his flawed character?

Reversal The key to true Heroism

The Tragic Hero changes his life  Becomes a humble man  Willing to submit to the will of the gods.  Give evidence of Oedipus' reversal.