The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies. It is beneficial for students to understand why is considered so important. One reason is that it contains a tragic hero. This is a protagonist, typically of noble birth, destined for doom. In this play, Romeo clearly fits this description. The famous Greek philosopher, Aristotle, was the first to record the principle attributes of a tragic hero.
| ATTRIBUTE | DESCRIPTION | Example from Romeo and Juliet |
|---|---|---|
| Hamartia | Flaw in the Character | Romeo's flaw is his impulsive nature. He quickly falls in love and gets in fights. |
| Hubris | Excessive Pride | In his pride, Romeo forces Friar Lawrence to marry him and Juliet. |
| Peripeteia | Reversal of Fortune | Romeo kills Tybalt, and is banished from Verona. |
| Anagnorisis | A Moment of Critical Discovery | "Romeo, I just heard that Juliet of Verona is dead!" |
| Nemesis | Fate that Cannot be Avoided | The false poison that causes Juliet to appear dead, and the real poison that Romeo drinks to kill himself. |
| Catharsis | Audience's Feeling of Pity or Fear After the Hero's Fall | The lovers' deaths end the fighting. The families reconcile to the loss of those they love. |
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows how Romeo can be considered a tragic hero.
Begin by defining the terms "tragic hero," "motif," and "archetype." Provide an overview of the characteristics that define a tragic hero, such as noble birth, tragic flaw, and reversal of fortune. Explain how tragic hero motifs and archetypes appear in literature and drama.
Focus on Romeo's character in "Romeo and Juliet" and guide students in analyzing how he embodies the characteristics of a tragic hero. Encourage students to reference specific scenes, actions, and decisions that highlight Romeo's tragic hero status. Discuss how Romeo's character aligns with the classical tragic hero archetype.
Present students with examples of tragic heroes from other literary works or drama. Engage students in a comparative analysis, exploring how these characters share or differ from the tragic hero archetype. Discuss the concept of universality in tragic hero motifs and archetypes.
Assign a creative writing project where students create a modern interpretation of a tragic hero. Provide guidelines for the project, including the incorporation of key tragic hero motifs and archetypes. Explain the presentation format for sharing their modern tragic hero stories.
A tragic hero typically possesses noble qualities, has a tragic flaw that leads to their downfall, experiences a reversal of fortune, recognizes their fate, and evokes feelings of pity and fear in the audience. Romeo exemplifies these traits in "Romeo and Juliet" as a character of noble birth who possesses a tragic flaw, his impulsiveness. His hasty decisions and impulsive actions, such as his quick love for Juliet and the duel with Tybalt, lead to tragic consequences. These actions result in a reversal of his fortune, as he is banished from Verona and separated from Juliet. Romeo is keenly aware of the role of fate in his life, often referring to being "star-crossed." His tragic journey evokes feelings of pity and fear in the audience, as they empathize with his character's impetuous nature.
The defining characteristics of a tragic hero include noble qualities, a tragic flaw, a reversal of fortune, a recognition of fate, and the evocation of pity and fear. In "Romeo and Juliet," Romeo, a member of the noble Montague family, possesses these qualities. His tragic flaw, impulsiveness, leads to his hasty decisions and impulsive actions, such as falling in love with Juliet quickly and engaging in a fatal duel with Tybalt. These actions result in a reversal of his fortune, leading to his banishment and separation from Juliet. Romeo is acutely aware of the role of fate in his life, often referring to being "star-crossed." His tragic journey evokes feelings of pity and fear in the audience, who empathize with his impetuous nature.
Storyboards and worksheets can help students understand and visually represent Romeo's characteristics as a tragic hero. Students can create visual representations of key scenes, such as Romeo's impulsive decisions, his nobility, the moment of reversal in his fortune, and his recognition of fate. Worksheets can guide students in summarizing and analyzing these characteristics in the context of the play, encouraging them to think critically about how Romeo embodies the traits of a tragic hero. This visual and analytical approach aids in a deeper comprehension of Romeo's character and his role in the tragic narrative.