Frankenstein 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 novel, Frankenstein and his monster both fit this archetype.
The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, first articulated the specific attributes or principles of a tragic hero. In the storyboard example, the creator has focused on Victor Frankenstein as a tragic hero. The finished product outlines each of Aristotle's principles with a detailed explanation of the specific attributes and how they apply to Dr. Frankenstein. Students could choose to examine Frankenstein’s monster instead, or compare the two side by side in a grid layout
| ATTRIBUTE | DEFINITION | EXAMPLE FROM TEXT |
|---|---|---|
| Hamartia | Flaw that Causes the Hero's Downfall | Frankenstein’s blind ambition leads him to investigate science that is best left alone. |
| Hubris | Excessive Pride | Victor believes he can conquer death with science, recklessly playing “God” and ignoring the natural order. |
| Peripeteia | Reversal of Fortune | Victor thinks the monster is gone but returns home to find his brother, William, killed and the creature lurking. |
| Anagnorisis | Hero Makes a Critical Discovery | Victor realizes his monster killed his new bride, Elizabeth, and this is what was meant by, “I shall be with you on your wedding-night.” |
| Nemesis | Unavoidable Fate | Once Victor brought the monster to life, his fate was inextricably intertwined with it, to the ends of the earth, and the ends of their lives. |
| Catharsis | Pity or Fear the Audience Feels After Hero's Fall | In the end, the reader is left feeling pity for Victor, and fear that they too could suffer the consequences of hubris. Captain Walton, a surrogate for the reader, heeds the lesson and sails for home. |
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows how either Victor Frankenstein or his monster can be considered a tragic hero.
Engage students by assigning groups to argue whether Victor Frankenstein or his monster better fits the tragic hero archetype. Debates build critical thinking and speaking skills while deepening literary analysis.
Divide students into teams and assign each group a character to defend. Establish clear debate rules so everyone participates and stays respectful during discussion.
Encourage students to find specific quotes and scenes supporting their arguments. Using evidence strengthens their points and ensures arguments are grounded in the text.
Moderate the debate by prompting students to respond to opposing viewpoints. Rebuttals help deepen understanding of character motivations and tragic hero traits.
Invite students to reflect on what they learned and hold a class vote on who is the stronger tragic hero. This step reinforces learning outcomes and gives students ownership of their analysis.
Victor Frankenstein is considered a tragic hero because he possesses noble qualities but is doomed by a tragic flaw—his reckless ambition and hubris. This flaw leads to his downfall, causing suffering both for himself and those around him, fitting the Aristotelian model of tragedy.
Students can create a storyboard by identifying key events or traits from the novel that match Aristotle's tragic hero attributes (Hamartia, Hubris, Peripeteia, Anagnorisis, Nemesis, Catharsis). Each cell should illustrate one attribute and include a brief description connecting it to Victor Frankenstein.
Aristotle’s six attributes are Hamartia (tragic flaw), Hubris (excessive pride), Peripeteia (reversal of fortune), Anagnorisis (critical discovery), Nemesis (inevitable fate), and Catharsis (audience’s emotional response). Each can be seen in Victor’s journey, such as his ambition (Hamartia) and the consequences that follow (Nemesis).
Victor’s hubris is shown when he believes he can conquer death using science, ignoring ethical boundaries and the natural order. This excessive pride ultimately leads to tragic outcomes for himself and others.
Yes, Frankenstein’s monster can also be viewed as a tragic hero. Like Victor, the creature possesses noble traits but is doomed by circumstances and society’s rejection, leading to suffering and tragedy, making him a compelling parallel for classroom comparison.