Ivy Zhu
Period 1
6/12/20
Freshman 2020
Blog #67
Aim: How can an analysis of both Aristotle's definition of the “tragic hero,” and an evaluation of the main themes found in Julius Caesar , be applied to the characters in the play?
Do Now: Why do you believe that some author’s like to utilize having a tragic hero in their stories?
As a class, we answered the Do Now. We concluded that some authors like to have tragic heroes in their stories for the effect they have on readers. Readers often pity the hero, because they won’t get a happy ending. After reading the story, readers would realize that everyone has flaws, even heroes. The tragic heroes show that people aren’t perfect, but can grow and change as a person.
Aristotle, Greek Philosopher
After discussing the Do Now, we dove into the lesson. We learned that the tragic hero (in Aristotle’s view) is a hero who has a tragic flaw, also known as hamartia. With this flaw, they are doomed to make a misjudgement that would lead to their fall (peripeteia). They usually die a tragic death.
As stated in the Do Now answer, tragic heroes tend to have a special effect on readers. After reading the story, people pity the heroes and get a feeling of catharsis. Catharsis is like the feeling after a “good cry.” It releases stress and causes a sense of relief.
For more information on tragic heroes:
After reviewing the terms and the lesson, we went off on our own to watch the first half of the movie (or play), Julius Caesar, via Edpuzzle. The movie is based on the book Julius Caesar, by Shakespeare. We’re to find at least 3 characters that appear in the film that fits the description of a tragic hero according to Aristotle.
Here’s a link to watch the movie:
What have you learned in your online English lessons?
Over the course of the past few months, I’ve learned different types of literary devices used in pieces of literature. While reading the novel, the Odyssey (which we finished recently), I’ve learned about hubris (sense of pride), nostos (wanting to return home), kleos (wanting fame and glory), xenia (hospitality), and much more. From today’s lesson, I learned about tragic heroes and how they affect a story.
How is it like working from home?
Working from home isn’t too bad. I am still able to learn and understand the lessons. I can reach out to my teachers via email or through a virtual meeting. There have been some minor issues with the internet connection for me every now and then, making it difficult for me to get all my work in on time. Besides the internet issues, working from home has been slightly less stressful.
What are you learning about your world/ community based on the reactions?
Because of the pandemic, I can see racism starting to increase. I’m learning that some people like to unfairly treat others just because of their race or skin color. Some people are also trying to blame the virus on one group of people, but I believe that it is no one’s fault and we should work together to stop the pandemic, not go against each other and blame one another. I think some people are being unreasonable.
Reflection:
Today, I learned that tragic heroes are heroes with a fatal flaw. This flaw causes them to make a wrong choice. After making that choice, there is no going back and the hero usually meets their death. Their spirit lives on because, even though they had fallen, they had gained a moral victory. I learned this because many works of literature and movies include tragic heroes, one of them being Julius Caesar. With this knowledge, I would better understand the plot of the movie. I would be able to recognize who the tragic heroes are, their flaws, and the choice they make that leads to their downfall. Learning about tragic heroes will greatly benefit me in the future when I dive deeper into the world of literature. Many books contain characters that fit the role of a tragic hero and it would be important to know a brief understanding of what will happen to them.
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