The concept of the tragic hero is a cornerstone of literary analysis, originating from ancient Greek drama and persisting through to contemporary literature. This archetype reflects a character who possesses inherent flaws or makes critical errors in judgment, leading to their inevitable downfall. Tragic heroes are typically individuals of high ...Read More
The concept of the tragic hero is a cornerstone of literary analysis, originating from ancient Greek drama and persisting through to contemporary literature. This archetype reflects a character who possesses inherent flaws or makes critical errors in judgment, leading to their inevitable downfall. Tragic heroes are typically individuals of high status or noble birth who are pitted against an insurmountable fate or a critical moral decision, which ultimately leads to a tragic end. This essay topic invites an exploration of how the tragic hero has evolved over centuries, from the strictures of Aristotle’s definitions in ancient Greek tragedies, through the complexities of Shakespeare’s protagonists, to the nuanced figures in modern literature.
Writing an essay on the evolution of the tragic hero is significant for several reasons:
It offers insights into how societal values and philosophical perceptions of heroism, morality, and fate have shifted over time.
This theme provides a rich field for literary analysis, allowing for a deep dive into various literary devices, character development, and narrative techniques used by authors to depict tragic heroes.
It encourages a nuanced understanding of human strengths and weaknesses and the consequences of our choices, underscoring the timeless relevance of classical themes in the modern context.
The evolution of the tragic hero offers a lens through which to examine different cultural attitudes towards fate, free will, and the divine.
By exploring the tragedies of these heroes, readers and writers alike are prompted to reflect on their own lives and the human condition, fostering empathy for others.
Literature Review Essay Topics
The Evolution of the Tragic Hero in Literature: From Ancient Greece to Modern Times
Feminism in Literature: The Waves from the 19th Century to the Present
The Portrayal of Family Dynamics in 20th-Century American Literature
Post-Colonial Narratives and Identity: A Literature Review
Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore some of the aspects that influence state and non-state actors using the Just War Theory in wars or conflicts. The review seeks to answer the research question, how does applying the Just War theory affect current...
Song of Myself is a poem of bold declarations that egotistically assert Walt Whitman’s place and purpose in the context of a world of immense scope and romantically instilled vigor. And yet located within this chaotic unfurling of identity there is one piece of the...
The parallel and overall relation of time is a phenomenon that has been explored from both creative and philosophical perspectives. By forming a connection between the impacts of action, in hand with the various possible outcomes, Tom Stoppard creates a dramatic piece that challenges the...
For the sake of the audience, a theatre production relies on a well-designed and thematically relevant setting. This is because a setting is responsible for designating the audience in a particular time and place, in addition to creating a specific social or political environment. In...
Introduction Every decision, every breath one takes, and every step one ever walks brings one closer to a single goal — to find the meaning of life. The summation of one’s decisions, steps, and movements through life shapes one’s individual existence and leads to proliferation...
With regard to his own work, David Mamet admits that “What I write about is what I think is missing from our society. And that’s communication on a basic level.” In his play Glengarry Glen Ross, Mamet uses an ironic technique to illustrate his beliefs...
In many novels that depict the story of relationship, a woman meets a man throughout the plot in social institutions such as school, at a party, at the mall, or even online. Soon this couple falls in love, and eventually decides to tie the knot;...
The Oresteia is a multipurpose work that sets the foundation for the evolution of modern political thought throughout the ages. It also serves to outline the beginning of the understanding of humanity through multiple different lenses. The human life is examined to a thorough extent,...
The Silenus box is a “case carved like an ugly Silenus” that can be “opened to reveal beautiful, precious objects” (Erasmus 43, footnote). This box appears in Erasmus’ The Praise of Folly as a metaphor for the central claim in the novel, which is that...
Gerard Manley Hopkins is a rewarding and demanding poet, one of the three or four greatest poets of the Victorian era. His style was so radically different from that of his contemporaries. Without having a detailed knowledge of his life, beliefs and any other background...
“Poem About My Rights” is a passionate, emotional, and personal poem. Violence toward and oppression of individual African Americans and countries in southern Africa are the overriding themes of “Poem About My Rights.” The poem vulgarly refers to sexual violence experienced by woman and how...
In An Inspector Calls, Priestley portrays inspector google as a peculiar mysterious man. His name Goole having the same pronunciation as “ghoul”, in another word a ghost/spirit. This suggests perhaps someone who has an interest in death and maybe is sent as Eva’s afterlife to...
In John Patrick Shanley’s parable “Doubt” he introduces Father Flynn as a loved and talented priest, while introducing Sister Aloysius as a stern, intolerant, disciplinary of St. Nicholas Church School. Father Flynn’s character becomes in doubt when Sister Aloysius makes allegations that Father Flynn had...
One thing that everyone has in common is the need for human compassion. People need other people to interact with, so when loved ones deny them this entitlement it can be devastating. People from all lifestyles are victims to this type of emotional abandonment, but...
Carl Sagan writer of the article, “The Fine Art of Baloney Detection”, ponders on the idea of a supernatural reunion. Carl Sagan says that he can feel this connection he has with his deceased parents as if they are still with him and not dead....
Penned in a time of legend and antiquity, Euripides’ meditation on ‘where love was once deepest a cancer spreads’ elucidates the self-serving infidelity and untempered vengeance of both Jason and Medea, respectively. Initially painted as a victimized and desolate character, Medea’s inner disdain is the...
Introduction In his book, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, Dominic Crossan critically and radically challenged the traditional view of Jesus of Nazareth. Crossan subjected the four Gospels to critical evaluation and employed the method of historical criticism in his attempt to determine whether the main Gospel...
The narrative poem I chose is “The Tale of a Custard the dragon” written by “Ogden Nash”. This is an imaginary poem written for children which also tells you a great story and gives you a great moral too. The poem tells a story about...
Both of the books I read about happiness reminded me of Yoshi Valley in Mario Kart 8. On that map, you have many paths to choose but no matter what path you choose you end up in the same place. Made-to-order essay as fast as...
Yozo Fujino (2017) found that civil infrastructure supports our everyday life and social activities. He also included that most of the bridges is built during our high economic growth period. As time goes by, maintenance and expenditures increased. He also included that condition of infrastructure...
Metaphors are commonly used in poetry to enhance deeper meanings underneath the text. Authors employ these literary devices as a way to convey overarching messages by making comparisons to simple ideas that readers can comprehend. Often times, poets incorporate extended metaphors throughout an entire poem...
The extract being analysed is a letter from Queen Elizabeth to lord Zelabdim Echebar king of Cambaya (akbar) written in 1583, the same year in which Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed the island of Newfoundland on behalf of England, not long before England had signed a...
Eighner’s eloquence and extensive vocabulary reveal a man who takes pride in what he has learned as a dumpster diver, and who uses this knowledge to subvert stereotypes about his lifestyle. He quotes examples of his experiences as a dumpster diver and his progressive journey....
The profound perception in “Sonnet LXXXI” by Edmund Spenser discusses a woman’s physical appearance in a conventional manner as it is characterized by the society. However, the context of the text highlights the unique qualities of the woman, praising both the natural aspects of her...
Introduction Sophocles’ masterpiece, “Oedipus Rex,” delves into the profound impact of the past on the present and the future. It serves as a compelling example of the Greek belief that one’s destiny is predetermined, leading to a series of events beyond an individual’s control. Oedipus,...
Subject: Freakonomics is built upon Steven Levitt’s underlying belief: “the modern world is not impenetrable, it is not unknowable, and if the right questions are asked- is even more intriguing than we think. All it takes is a new way of looking. Levitt explains the...
In the opening of “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, the narrator, Sylvia, gives off the impression that she is arrogant and stubborn. She has no reservations when it comes to expressing her disdain towards those who cause her to doubt her own intelligence. For...
In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story, ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ took place in England in the nineteenth century in the bedroom of the haunted rented mansion by the narrator named Jane and her husband. There’s yellow wallpaper in the house that Jane swears to see a...
The legitimacy issue that Gladwell established in the chapter 7 is very interesting because of the example of “The Troubles” he explains that when the law is applied and legitimacy is not involved instead of producing obedience it produces the opposite, it leads to backlash....
In “The Weary Blues”, Langston Hughes uses negative language to create a generally discouraging atmosphere. The relentless dark imagery makes the reader overlook an underlying message, as the poem actually encourages its readers to push against any obstacles in their way. Rather than being beaten...
