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The Modern Day Definition Of A Tragic Hero

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The modern day definition of “hero” is usually a figure who goes above and beyond the actions of the average man for the sake of a greater good. In today’s society, anyone can be classified as a hero if their actions surpass a certain threshold of selflessness. However, in literature, a “hero” must fit a very specific criteria to be truly fit such a title. Two major types of heroes in literature include the tragic hero and the epic hero.
A tragic hero is an extraordinary character in a dramatic tragedy who must suffer an unfortunate end at the hands of fate. Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero concerns a multitude of factors including: disaster, nobility, mixed character, moral worth and social significance, reversal or change at fortune

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