Tragedy and Tragic Hero

Which situation is the best example of dramatic irony?

• A. An old man believes that buying a lottery ticket every day will eventually make him very wealthy.

• B. A woman sarcastically tells her boyfriend that he looks very classy in a stained T-shirt and ripped jeans.

• C. The audience sees the killer hiding behind the door, but the character is unaware until it is too late.

• D. The audience is surprised to learn that the protagonist of the story has been lying the entire time.

Which character is the best example of a tragic hero?

• A. A powerful king dies alone after his pride and vanity cause everyone to abandon him.

• B. A brave warrior struggles for many years to return to his home and see his family again.

• C. A young boy becomes a powerful leader after years of hard work and determination.

• D. A popular king is murdered and returns as a ghost to haunt the people who killed him.

Which plot description is the best example of a tragedy?

• A. A billionaire oilman loses his fortune and his family after he fails to see the damage his company is doing to the environment.

• B. A puppy gets lost during a cross-country move and experiences many dangerous situations as he finds his way back to his family.

• C. An old man must give up his most prized possession--his car-- to raise enough money to send his granddaughter to school.

• D. A young married couple begins to grow apart as work and family obligations take their toll on the marriage, causing them to split up.

Which character is the best example of a tragic hero?

• A. A young man tries to get home to his wife and family after a long war but is constantly delayed by obstacles placed in his way.

• B. After a popular playwright is killed by an ambitious and jealous rival, he returns as a ghost to try to help solve his own murder.

• C. An ambitious prince is unable to save himself or his family after realizing too late how much his desire for power has cost him.

• D. A young orphan boy who is raised by cruel and vindictive foster parents runs away and finds great adventure in the wilds of Alaska.

What common character trait do tragic heroes share?

• A. They are unusually strong and powerful warriors.

• B. They must fight fate in order to make their own decisions.

• C. They have a flaw that will ultimately lead to their undoing.

• D. They commit terrible crimes to satisfy their ambitions.

Which situation is the best example of a hero's inner conflict?

• A. A prince struggles to decide whether to kill the man who murdered his father.

• B. A king fights a war with a neighboring country to protect his land and wealth.

• C. A queen is killed by her husband, who mistakenly thinks she has been unfaithful to him.

• D. A knight goes on a quest for a priceless artifact, encountering many adventures along the way.

Hubris is...

• A delicious chickpea and sesame dip.

• Excessive pride or self-confidence.

• A city in ancient Greece.

• A Greco-Roman weapon.

A tragic flaw is...

• A fatal flaw in a character, which eventually leads to his downfall.

• A sad, lonely bird.

• A way to get what you want in life.

• A belief that everyone is right except you.

What is catharsis?

• An ancient, golden chariot driven by Apollo.

• A feeling of pride.

• A warning given to heroes to stay away from evil.

• A psychological state through which pity and fear are purged; the audience leaves the theater relieved

What is hamartia?

• An old, Greek table.

• A plague that was set upon Thebes.

• A character flaw or error in judgment.

• Food that the Sphinx likes to eat.