Which term refers to the 'fatal flaw' / the character flaw of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall?

• A. Tragic Flaw
• B. Tragic Hero
• C. Foil
• D. Scene

Answer: (A)

The flaw driving a tragic hero toward ruin is a tragic flaw, often tied to an internal weakness like hubris or reckless impulsivity. This trait isn’t just bad luck or fate; it shapes the hero’s decisions in a way that leads to a grave mistake. That misstep kicks off a chain of consequences—reversal of fortune and increased suffering—that culminates in downfall. Naming it as a tragic flaw directly identifies the hero’s own personality as the force behind the tragedy, rather than just describing the situation or the character type. A tragic hero is the noble figure who bears this flaw; a foil is another character used to highlight the hero’s traits through contrast; a scene is simply a unit of action. So the term that most precisely captures the cause of the downfall is the tragic flaw. For example, a leader's excessive pride might cause them to ignore wise counsel, setting catastrophe in motion.