“Tragedy is the imitation of an action of great importance. . .” states Aristotle in his book Poetics (cited in Kennedy & Gioia, 2010). Undoubtedly, he observed and analyzed countless plays throughout his life and in Poetics he writes a broad description of what a tragedy should contain (Kennedy & Gioia). More specifically, for Aristotle, tragedies require a “tragic hero.” What makes this literary character unique from other literary heroes? The most obvious and central difference is that the hero in question always experiences a disastrous reversal of fortune, which follows the recognition of a previously unknown truth (Kennedy & Gioia). He must be "a man who is not particularly virtuous or just" (Poetics, part XIII, trans. 1909), but he must still be a "good person" whom the public learns to respect and, for this reason, to be deeply pitied and feared throughout history. play (Poetics part XIII). Although he is a person of high status and influence, surprisingly, the hero of Greek tragedy is someone we can relate to in his humanity. Moreover, his fall “from happiness to misery” is “brought about not by vice or depravity but by an error of judgment” (Poetics, part XIII) – his hamartia. The Oxford English Dictionary translates this Greek word as “the fault or error which brings about the destruction of the tragic hero” (Oxford English Dictionary, 1989). With this in mind, many believe that King Oedipus, in Sophocles' play Oedipus the King, is the perfect example of Aristotle's tragic hero. But does he really meet all the “requirements” described in the Poetics or is there something we are missing deep down in his fascinating and multifaceted character that does not fit into Aristotle’s model? Without a doubt, Oe...... middle of paper...... death, a memory without pain” (Oedipus exodus. lines 297-300). Works Cited Dodds, ER, (1966). On Oedipus' misunderstanding. In Kennedy, X.J. and Gioia, D., Literature, Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing (6th ed.). (pp. 900-901). Boston: PearsonError. (nd). In the Macmillan Dictionary. Retrieved December 14, 2011 from http://www.macmillandictionary.comHamartia. (1989). In the Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved December 10, 2011 from http://www.oed.com/Kennedy, XJ and Gioia, D. (2010). Literature, Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson Knox, BMW (1998). Oedipus in Thebes: the tragic hero of Sophocles and his era. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.proxy033.nclive.orgPride. (2007). In the Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved December 10, 2011 from http://www.oed.com