What are characteristics of a tragic hero?

It is best to go back to Aristotle, as a scholar who knew the ancients well and defined tragedy. Aristotle says:

"a [tragic hero is one ] who is neither a paragon of virtue and justice nor undergoes the change to misfortune through any real badness or wickedness but because of some mistake."

He also says:

"a [tragic hero is] one of those who stand in great repute and prosperity, like Oedipus and Thyestes: conspicuous men from families of that kind."

Based on these two quotes, we can make the following conclusions:

• First, a tragic hero is usually of noble birth and is esteemed greatly in society. Of course, he or she is not perfect, but a cut or two above the rest.
• Second, this figure has a tragic flaw that eventually leads to his or her downfall (harmatia).
• Third, in the course of the tragedy, there is a sudden change (peripeteia) due the tragic flaw.
• The audience must feel pity and fear for this character and also at times feel a catharsis at the end of the play in the resolution.

To make these points concrete, all you need to do is think of the characteristic and life of Oedipus and Antigone.

Aristotle was one of the first to define a tragic hero. Tragic heroes are, typically, found in dramas (plays). Given the characteristics above provide a very good list, I would add that the "fall" of the tragic hero is not necessarily a complete loss for the hero. Instead, the fall forces the hero to "up" his or her self-knowledge.

There is a plot consideration to be made here as well. In order for a hero to be tragic, he/she must take part in a (formally defined) tragedy.

Don Quixote cannot be considered a tragic hero, for this reason, whereas an argument can be made that Luke Skywalker is a tragic hero in the context of Empire Strikes Back.

Quixote is flawed in the same way that many tragic heroes are flawed and he takes part in a quest. Yet, his story is a comedy.

Skywalker takes part in a tragedy in Empire Strikes Back, and his personal flaw is his sentimentality. When faced in battle with a hardened opponent, Luke's inability to suppress his feelings leads to failure.

What is atypical of a tragic hero?

If you are referring to a particular tragic hero, please edit the question to reflect that. But if you are asking a general question about characteristics in opposition to a classical tragic hero, then, I can answer that.

In order to understand what is atypical for a tragic hero, we must first understand what is typical for one. The word ‘hero’ is from the Greek ‘heros,’ which translates ‘warrior, protector, defender,’ and the classical definition of a tragic hero is Aristotelian in origin. Aristotle’s tragic hero must have five characteristics: he must be of noble birth; he must have a character flaw, which usually presents as excessive pride; he must experience a reversal of fortune, almost always from good to bad; he must come to an understanding that his reversal of fortune is a result of his own choices or actions; and the consequences of his actions and his ultimate fate must be more than he deserves. The consequences of the hero’s actions should bring the audience to a point where they realize the hero is just a man who made a terrible mistake and, because his fate is always worse than he deserves, fear for and pity him.

Understanding these characteristics allows us to draw an opposing picture to see what characteristics are not typical of a tragic hero. First, it is atypical for a tragic hero to be of common birth. It is also atypical for a tragic hero to be humble, to not suffer from a serious character flaw that leads to his downfall. Having a tragic hero experience a reversal of fortune that moves from bad to good or good to better is atypical. If a tragic hero never comes to an understanding of his own culpability in the consequences that befall him and as a result does not suffer greatly, that is atypical. It would be very difficult for an audience to feel any fear or pity for such a tragic hero. In fact, he would not be a tragic hero at all.

What are the major qualities of a tragic hero?

This is a good question. Let me give you the most common qualities.

First, a tragic hero must be noble is some sense. A tragic hero cannot be a common person. For example, Oedipus is a ruler and has great qualities. He is wise and brave.

Second, a tragic hero has blind spots. More specifically, he or she lacks self-knowledge. We can say that it is the antithesis of the adage at the oracle of Delphi - "know thyself."

Third, a tragic hero transgresses some boundary and by this catches the notice of the gods or some other person in leadership. This transgression may also be seen as a breaking of the adage of Delphi - "nothing in excess." We can call this hubris.

Fourth, a tragic hero comes to ruin on account of a noble flaw.

Fifth, a tragic hero usually sees some sort of redemption in the end and certainly elicits sympathy from the audience or reader.