The term 'tragic hero' refers to:

• A. A topic; the subject of a discourse or of one of its parts.
• B. A writer's use of hints that suggest what events will occur later in the book.
• C. Language used to persuade.
• D. The protagonist of a tragedy.

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is what a tragic hero means in literature. A tragic hero is the central character in a tragedy—usually a person of noble status—whose downfall is caused or amplified by a tragic flaw or a serious mistake in judgment. This combination makes the audience feel pity and fear and creates the emotional arc of the play. Because of that, the term refers to the protagonist of a tragedy, not to the topic being discussed, not to foreshadowing, and not to persuasive language. In this sense, the answer points to the main character at the center of the tragedy.