Activity Overview
King Lear is full of important literary elements for students to explore. One of these elements is the tragic hero, a protagonist who seems to be ill-fated, and destined for doom. In this play, King Lear is the tragic hero as his foolish decision leads himself and many others to their ruin and deaths.
The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, first articulated the specific attributes or principles of a tragic hero. For the storyboard above, students can use a template to storyboard the qualities that make King Lear a tragic hero. The finished product outlines each of Aristotle's principles with a detailed explanation of the specific attributes.
| ATTRIBUTE | DESCRIPTION | Example from King Lear |
|---|---|---|
| Hamartia | Hero's Flaw that Causes Downfall | King Lear’s pride and love of flattery leads him to bestow his wealth and power to his daughters based solely on how well they could flatter him with words. |
| Hubris | Excessive Pride | As a result of King Lear’s foolish game, Goneril and Regan receive equal shares in the kingdom. Angered by Cordelia’s refusal to participate, King Lear disinherits her, leaving her no other option than to marry the King of France and leave England in the hands of her power-hungry sisters. |
| Peripeteia | Reversal of Fortune | Goneril and Regan are allied in their quest to wrench full power from their father. They treat him terribly, remove the knights from his entourage, and lock up his servant in the stocks. |
| Anagnorisis | Moment of Critical Discovery | After Kent is locked in the stocks, King Lear seems to realize his grave mistake and rides off into a terrible storm. He is wild with grief and begins to lose his sanity. |
| Nemesis | Fate that Cannot be Avoided | While Lear realizes his wrongs, and he does eventually reconcile with Cordelia, Albany and Edmund’s forces are already too strong. They readily defeat Lear and Cordelia, and Edmund takes them prisoner. |
| Catharsis | Audience's Feeling of Pity or Fear After the Hero's Fall | While Edgar is able to expose Edmund’s lies for what he really is, it is too late: Edmund has already sent a guard to kill Cordelia and King Lear. King Lear kills the guard, but it isn’t in time to save Cordelia’s life. Heartbroken, King Lear dies while holding her body in his arms. The audience feels pity that Lear realized his mistakes, but won’t be given a chance to rectify them. |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows how King Lear can be considered a tragic hero.
- Identify events of the play or characteristics of King Lear that fit into Aristotelian attributes of a tragic hero.
- Illustrate examples for Hamartia, Hubris, Peripeteia, Anagnorisis, Nemesis, and Catharsis.
- Write a short description below each cell that specifically relates King Lear as a tragic hero.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tragic Hero Characteristics | The six tragic hero characteristics are correctly identified and portrayed from the story. The explanation provided explains how the scenes depict each characteristic, and shows effective analysis. | Four or five tragic hero characteristics are correctly identified and portrayed from the story, or some of the elements may not be identified correctly. The explanations give context to the scene, but may be minimal, and there is some attempt at analysis. | Two or three tragic hero characteristics are correctly identified and portrayed from the story, or most of the elements are inaccurately depicted. The quotes and/or explanations are too minimal. | One or fewer tragic hero characteristics are correctly identified and portrayed from the story, or most of the elements are inaccurately depicted. The quotes and/or explanations are minimal or missing altogether. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes are accurate to the work of literature. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes should be accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes is inappropriate. Scene constructions are messy and may create some confusion. | The art chosen to depict the scenes is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas may be disorganized or misplaced. Lack of control over grammar, mechanics, and spelling reflect a lack of proofreading. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
King Lear is full of important literary elements for students to explore. One of these elements is the tragic hero, a protagonist who seems to be ill-fated, and destined for doom. In this play, King Lear is the tragic hero as his foolish decision leads himself and many others to their ruin and deaths.
The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, first articulated the specific attributes or principles of a tragic hero. For the storyboard above, students can use a template to storyboard the qualities that make King Lear a tragic hero. The finished product outlines each of Aristotle's principles with a detailed explanation of the specific attributes.
| ATTRIBUTE | DESCRIPTION | Example from King Lear |
|---|---|---|
| Hamartia | Hero's Flaw that Causes Downfall | King Lear’s pride and love of flattery leads him to bestow his wealth and power to his daughters based solely on how well they could flatter him with words. |
| Hubris | Excessive Pride | As a result of King Lear’s foolish game, Goneril and Regan receive equal shares in the kingdom. Angered by Cordelia’s refusal to participate, King Lear disinherits her, leaving her no other option than to marry the King of France and leave England in the hands of her power-hungry sisters. |
| Peripeteia | Reversal of Fortune | Goneril and Regan are allied in their quest to wrench full power from their father. They treat him terribly, remove the knights from his entourage, and lock up his servant in the stocks. |
| Anagnorisis | Moment of Critical Discovery | After Kent is locked in the stocks, King Lear seems to realize his grave mistake and rides off into a terrible storm. He is wild with grief and begins to lose his sanity. |
| Nemesis | Fate that Cannot be Avoided | While Lear realizes his wrongs, and he does eventually reconcile with Cordelia, Albany and Edmund’s forces are already too strong. They readily defeat Lear and Cordelia, and Edmund takes them prisoner. |
| Catharsis | Audience's Feeling of Pity or Fear After the Hero's Fall | While Edgar is able to expose Edmund’s lies for what he really is, it is too late: Edmund has already sent a guard to kill Cordelia and King Lear. King Lear kills the guard, but it isn’t in time to save Cordelia’s life. Heartbroken, King Lear dies while holding her body in his arms. The audience feels pity that Lear realized his mistakes, but won’t be given a chance to rectify them. |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows how King Lear can be considered a tragic hero.
- Identify events of the play or characteristics of King Lear that fit into Aristotelian attributes of a tragic hero.
- Illustrate examples for Hamartia, Hubris, Peripeteia, Anagnorisis, Nemesis, and Catharsis.
- Write a short description below each cell that specifically relates King Lear as a tragic hero.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tragic Hero Characteristics | The six tragic hero characteristics are correctly identified and portrayed from the story. The explanation provided explains how the scenes depict each characteristic, and shows effective analysis. | Four or five tragic hero characteristics are correctly identified and portrayed from the story, or some of the elements may not be identified correctly. The explanations give context to the scene, but may be minimal, and there is some attempt at analysis. | Two or three tragic hero characteristics are correctly identified and portrayed from the story, or most of the elements are inaccurately depicted. The quotes and/or explanations are too minimal. | One or fewer tragic hero characteristics are correctly identified and portrayed from the story, or most of the elements are inaccurately depicted. The quotes and/or explanations are minimal or missing altogether. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes are accurate to the work of literature. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes should be accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes is inappropriate. Scene constructions are messy and may create some confusion. | The art chosen to depict the scenes is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas may be disorganized or misplaced. Lack of control over grammar, mechanics, and spelling reflect a lack of proofreading. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
How Tos about King Lear as a Tragic Hero
Integrate King Lear’s tragic hero traits into a creative writing prompt
Encourage students to use their understanding of King Lear’s tragic flaws by crafting their own stories with a tragic hero. This helps deepen comprehension and fosters creativity by applying literary concepts in a new way.
Introduce the activity with a class discussion on tragic heroes
Start by asking students to brainstorm qualities of tragic heroes and share examples from other stories. This activates prior knowledge and sets a strong foundation for the lesson.
Guide students to brainstorm their own tragic hero character
Have students list traits, flaws, and a possible downfall for their character. This step encourages critical thinking and connects their ideas to the classic model seen in King Lear.
Support students in outlining the key stages of their hero’s journey
Ask students to plot moments of hubris, reversal, anagnorisis, and nemesis in their story outline. This helps them internalize narrative structure and ensures their story mirrors the tragic arc.
Facilitate peer sharing and constructive feedback
Organize small groups for students to share their tragic hero outlines and offer suggestions. Peer input boosts confidence and helps refine their ideas before writing.
Frequently Asked Questions about King Lear as a Tragic Hero
What makes King Lear a tragic hero in Shakespeare's play?
King Lear is a tragic hero because his flaws—especially his pride and poor judgment—lead to his downfall and the suffering of others. By following Aristotle’s principles, Lear’s journey shows how his mistakes, realizations, and ultimate fate evoke pity and fear, fitting the definition of a tragic hero.
How can I teach the concept of a tragic hero using King Lear?
Use a storyboard template to have students match events from King Lear to the six Aristotelian attributes of a tragic hero: hamartia, hubris, peripeteia, anagnorisis, nemesis, and catharsis. This visual approach helps students connect literary theory to the play’s plot and characters.
What are the six tragic hero attributes in King Lear, and what are examples from the play?
The six key tragic hero attributes in King Lear are: Hamartia (flaw: pride), Hubris (excessive pride leading to the kingdom’s division), Peripeteia (downfall as his daughters betray him), Anagnorisis (Lear’s realization of his mistakes), Nemesis (inescapable fate), and Catharsis (the audience’s pity and fear at his tragic end).
What is a simple classroom activity for exploring King Lear as a tragic hero?
Assign students to identify and illustrate scenes from King Lear that fit each tragic hero attribute. They should write short descriptions explaining how each scene demonstrates hamartia, hubris, etc. This can be done individually or in groups for collaborative learning.
Why is understanding King Lear’s tragic flaws important for high school students?
Recognizing King Lear’s tragic flaws helps students analyze character motivation, consequences of actions, and classic literary themes. It also deepens their understanding of dramatic structure and empathy for complex characters.
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