Activity Overview
The Tragedy of Richard III is full of common literary elements that are important 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, while Richard himself admits he is a villain and commits evil acts, he does fit all of the standard attributes of a tragic hero. 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 Richard a tragic hero. The finished product outlines each of Aristotle's principles with a detailed explanation of the specific attributes.
King Richard III as a Tragic Hero
| ATTRIBUTE | DESCRIPTION | Example from Richard III |
|---|---|---|
| Hamartia | Hero's Flaw that Causes Downfall | Richard is driven by his ambition to become king, regardless of any cost. |
| Hubris | Excessive Pride | Richard thinks he is invincible; he is arrogant and believes that he will successfully sway Lady Anne to marry him, and he will kill everyone in his way to get the crown. |
| Peripeteia | Reversal of Fortune | Buckingham flees to Wales and raises an army against Richard; Richard discovers that the Earl of Richmond is bringing an army against him in a final challenge to the throne. Richard realizes that most of his allies are dead or turned against him. |
| Anagnorisis | Moment of Critical Discovery | Richard is visited by the ghosts of those he’s murdered, and discovers that he is an evil villain who hates himself. For the first time, he is afraid. |
| Nemesis | Fate that Cannot be Avoided | The ghosts predict Richard’s defeat and Richmond’s victory, and the sun refuses to rise. Richard and Richmond meet on the battlefield, where Richard is killed. |
| Catharsis | Audience's Feeling of Pity or Fear After the Hero's Fall | The audience feels a slight pang of pity when Richard realizes how badly he has sinned by killing so many people. He also shows fear at his impending defeat and doom. |
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 Richard can be considered a tragic hero.
- Identify events of the play or characteristics of Richard 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 Richard 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
The Tragedy of Richard III is full of common literary elements that are important 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, while Richard himself admits he is a villain and commits evil acts, he does fit all of the standard attributes of a tragic hero. 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 Richard a tragic hero. The finished product outlines each of Aristotle's principles with a detailed explanation of the specific attributes.
King Richard III as a Tragic Hero
| ATTRIBUTE | DESCRIPTION | Example from Richard III |
|---|---|---|
| Hamartia | Hero's Flaw that Causes Downfall | Richard is driven by his ambition to become king, regardless of any cost. |
| Hubris | Excessive Pride | Richard thinks he is invincible; he is arrogant and believes that he will successfully sway Lady Anne to marry him, and he will kill everyone in his way to get the crown. |
| Peripeteia | Reversal of Fortune | Buckingham flees to Wales and raises an army against Richard; Richard discovers that the Earl of Richmond is bringing an army against him in a final challenge to the throne. Richard realizes that most of his allies are dead or turned against him. |
| Anagnorisis | Moment of Critical Discovery | Richard is visited by the ghosts of those he’s murdered, and discovers that he is an evil villain who hates himself. For the first time, he is afraid. |
| Nemesis | Fate that Cannot be Avoided | The ghosts predict Richard’s defeat and Richmond’s victory, and the sun refuses to rise. Richard and Richmond meet on the battlefield, where Richard is killed. |
| Catharsis | Audience's Feeling of Pity or Fear After the Hero's Fall | The audience feels a slight pang of pity when Richard realizes how badly he has sinned by killing so many people. He also shows fear at his impending defeat and doom. |
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 Richard can be considered a tragic hero.
- Identify events of the play or characteristics of Richard 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 Richard 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 Richard III Tragic Hero
Engage students with a creative character analysis activity
Involve your students in analyzing Richard III by going beyond templates—ask them to create character diaries or social media profiles from Richard’s perspective. This approach encourages deeper empathy and understanding of his motivations and tragic flaws.
Assign roles for a dramatic classroom reading
Select students to play key characters and read pivotal scenes aloud. This strategy energizes the classroom, supports comprehension, and lets students experience the emotional shifts of Richard’s journey as a tragic hero.
Discuss the impact of Richard’s choices using a cause-and-effect chart
Guide students to map Richard’s decisions and their outcomes using a visual chart. This helps students see connections between character traits and plot events, reinforcing key tragic hero concepts.
Facilitate a debate on Richard’s status as a tragic hero
Organize a class debate where students defend or challenge the idea that Richard III fits Aristotle’s tragic hero mold. Debates foster critical thinking and allow students to practice citing text evidence.
Encourage personal connections through reflective journaling
Ask students to write short journal entries reflecting on a time they faced a difficult choice or flaw, connecting their experience to Richard’s journey. Personal reflection deepens understanding and makes the material more relatable.
Frequently Asked Questions about Richard III Tragic Hero
What makes Richard III a tragic hero in Shakespeare's play?
Richard III is considered a tragic hero because he displays key Aristotelian traits: hamartia (fatal flaw—his ambition), hubris (excessive pride), a reversal of fortune, anagnorisis (critical self-discovery), nemesis (unavoidable fate), and he inspires catharsis (pity and fear) in the audience.
How can students identify Richard III's tragic hero qualities using Aristotle's principles?
Students can examine the play for scenes that illustrate each Aristotelian trait: identify Richard's ambition as his flaw, moments of pride and arrogance, his downfall after allies turn against him, his realization of guilt, and the audience's emotional response after his defeat.
What are some examples of hamartia and hubris in Richard III?
Richard's hamartia is his ruthless ambition to seize the throne at all costs. His hubris shows when he arrogantly believes he can manipulate anyone—including Lady Anne—and eliminate all rivals without consequence.
Why is catharsis important in the story of Richard III?
Catharsis is important because it lets the audience experience pity and fear as Richard realizes his own evil and faces defeat. This emotional release helps viewers reflect on the consequences of unchecked ambition and moral corruption.
What activities help students understand tragic hero traits in Richard III?
Effective activities include creating a storyboard mapping Richard's actions to Aristotelian traits, discussing key scenes for each attribute, and writing short descriptions that connect Richard's journey to the concept of a tragic hero.
More Storyboard That Activities
Tragedy of Richard III, The
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