Tragic Hero Research Project - Hero Archetype Activities - Choices Consequences

A tragic hero doesn’t just exist in literature! Supplement teaching hero character traits and Aristotle's tragic hero archetype with this modern research project! Perfect supplement for Antigone, Macbeth, The Great Gatsby, Oedipus Rex, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, or any other text featuring a tragic hero as a main character!

The Modern Tragic Hero project examines notable people in our society who embody heroic traits. Just like the tragic hero archetype, however, the person made a mistake or had a character flaw ultimately leading to their downfall.

Students will have access to a Modern-Day Tragic Hero webmix featuring bookmarked links to information for 52 modern tragic heroes! The bookmarked site features thumbnail images and links to biographical information for a variety of celebrities, athletes, historical people, modern influencers, etc. that were involved in a controversy or scandal that suffered from a detrimental impact as a result.

For their research project, students will choose a real life person who they feel exemplifies the same traits and journey as a tragic hero archetype. Using Digital Note-Taking Charts with guiding research prompts, they will defend their assertion by locating relevant information on their chosen topics for support.

Teachers have two final research project options they can implement with their students. Students can write a character trait essay based on their research that identifies their person's "tragic hero" traits. For a different option, students can create a Modern Tragic Hero slides presentation that includes evidence of tragic hero traits and a mistake/character flaw leading to their downfall.

Both project options include a project sheet with editable requirements, a note-taking chart with relevant research prompts, a graphic organizer to plan their final project, and a final grading rubric.

You will also receive research resources you can use and reuse with any research activity - including how to create research questions, how to take notes, how to use effective keywords in Google searches, and how to cite sources in MLA format. This bundle of resources can be edited and adapted if necessary to fit your needs!

The Rise and Fall of the Modern Day Tragic Hero contains the following student and teacher resources:

• Detailed Teacher’s Pacing Guide with Directions
• PDF with Google Drive Share Links
• Defining a Modern Day Tragic Hero handout with a discussion prompt
• Foo Fighter’s song “My Hero” & Skillet’s song “I Need a Hero” video links and Song Analysis Activity with Answer Key
• Holding Out for a Hero student handout
• Narrowing Your Topic research activity and handout
• Creating Pre-search Questions and Taking Notes student handout
• Link to a Symbaloo Modern Day Tragic Hero webmix that includes 52 digital resources
• Digital Note-Taking Handout
• How to Guide with Effective Keyword Searching and Taking Research Notes
• MLA Source Citation Guide
• Modern Tragic Hero Essay Requirement Sheet, Graphic Organizer for Planning, Grading Rubric
• Modern Day Tragic Hero Slide Presentation Requirements, Graphic Organizer for Planning, Grading Rubric

Help your students make text-to-world connections with this fun, engaging resource!

See what teachers like you are saying!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ "Very well done and in a format that is easy for students to understand. All the steps of research are here including MLA format citations and citation cards. The students will enjoy the digital format of the symbaloo and there is a wide variety of modern heroes to chose from. Great use of choice to keep students engaged throughout the project. Highly recommend." Writer's Corner

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ "My students were so invested in learning about the different people mentioned in this resource! It made for a great introduction to Oedipus Rex." Allison C

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ "This is a great project and very adaptable for my EL students to use. A great way to end the school year!" Taryn Dubiel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ "The students enjoyed it. Such a great alternative to the typical curriculum options." Christopher C.

Are you interested in additional engaging activities and resources that relate to common literature themes?

Check out the following resources!

Stand Up! Civil Disobedience in Our Modern World

I’ve Got the POWER! Power and Self-Identity Research Project

Please click on the ★ and FOLLOW ME in order to receive free resources, notification of sales, and news regarding product updates!