Understanding the Tragic Hero

What is a tragic hero?

• A character who is always happy and successful

• A character who experiences a downfall due to a tragic flaw

• A character who is purely evil

• A character who never faces any challenges

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Which of the following is a common trait of a tragic hero?

• Perfect moral character

• Lack of ambition

• Hubris or excessive pride

• Complete ignorance

In literature, which of the following is often the cause of a tragic hero's downfall?

• External forces only

• A combination of fate and personal flaws

• Purely bad luck

• The actions of other characters

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Which of the following characters is considered a classic example of a tragic hero?

• Sherlock Holmes

• Hamlet

• Harry Potter

• Frodo Baggins

What is the term for the tragic hero's realization of their flaw and its consequences?

• Catharsis

• Peripeteia

• Anagnorisis

• Nemesis

Which of the following is NOT typically associated with a tragic hero?

• Noble birth or high status

• A tragic flaw

• A happy ending

• A moment of realization

What is the purpose of a tragic hero in literature?

• To provide comic relief

• To evoke pity and fear in the audience

• To serve as a villain

• To always win in the end

Which of the following is an example of a tragic flaw?

• Generosity

• Cowardice

• Ambition

• Kindness

In Shakespeare's "Macbeth," what is Macbeth's tragic flaw?

• Indecisiveness

• Ambition

• Cowardice

• Honesty

Which of the following best describes the ending of a tragedy involving a tragic hero?

• The hero triumphs over all obstacles

• The hero learns a valuable lesson and lives happily

• The hero suffers a downfall and often dies

• The hero becomes a villain