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Published byMartyna Wieczorek Modified over 6 years ago
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The Hero, The Tragic Hero, and The Anti-Hero
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The Hero Traditionally 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.
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ADVENTURE THRESHOLD Step 1 The call to adventure
Step 2 Crossing the Adventure Threshold Step 3 Supreme Ordeal Step 4 The Return
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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.
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What Defines Shakespearean Tragedy?
A Tragic Hero The Tragic Flaw-Hamartia Reversal of Fortune Catharsis Restoration of Social Order –Denouement
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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
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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
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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.
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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.
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Anti-Hero Traits Anti-Heroes can be obnoxious.
Anti-Heroes can be pitiful. Anti-Heroes can be awkward. Anti-Heroes can be passive.
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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
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