A hero is someone who knows right from wrong, is selfless, and protects others without thinking about personal consequences or gain. A tragic flaw is a defect which leads to a downfall. A tragic hero is a hero who has the characteristics of bravery, integrity, nobility and possesses a tragic flaw which leads to a downfall. In the epic poem, The Adventures of Ulysses, by Bernard Evslin, Ulysses is a tragic hero. His tragic flaw is hubris, or excessive pride, which in Greek culture is a highly punishable offense. Ulysses is regarded as a classic example of a tragic hero with special characteristics that make him both a protagonist and antagonist.Ulysses noble birth, integrity, and bravery makes him a great hero and helps him get through his troubles. Ulysses was born of a noble birth. For example, (p.37) Ulysses is about to reach Ithaca and he can see the hills and columns of his castle. He “saw the white marble columns of his own castle on the cliff.” This shows that Ulysses is a rich king because he owns a castle made out of marble. Ulysses has integrity when he promises Aeolus that he will not open the bag of winds, no matter what (p. 36). “I shall not open your bag of winds.” This shows that Ulysses has integrity when he promises to not open the bag of winds. Ulysses shows bravery when he blinds the giant cyclops Polyphemus(p. 26). “Ulysses stabbed the golden spike in the giant’s eye.” This shows that Ulysses is brave because he risks his life to help him and his crew escape the giant. It would be easier when the cyclops was blind, he would not see Ulysses and his men escape. Ulysses being born of noble birth, having integrity, and having bravery, which in the book, helps him through his many troubles.While Ulysses’s noble birth, integrity, and bravery help him get through troubles, bad luck and his hubris make his journey harder. His excessive pride can get him into a lot of trouble. For example, (p.29) Ulysses taunts Polyphemus and Ulysses tells the cyclops his name. “Poor fool! Poor blinded, drunken, gluttonous fool- if anyone else asks you it is Nobody, but Ulysses who has done this to you.” This quote shows Ulysses hubris, and it shows that he foolish to tell Polyphemus his name because it can cause him harm in the future. (Poseidon, Polyphemus’s dad curses Ulysses.) Another example his pride can get him into trouble is when Ulysses thinks he won the battle between him, and the Ciconians, and celebrates, with food and wine, but he is unready when the Ciconians’ allies attack (p.10-11). “...roasted the cattle, and had a great feast.” “Ulysses men were full of food and wine, unready to fight,....” This shows that Ulysses hubris leads to his downfall because he thinks that the battle is over, but the Ciconians’ allies attack, and Ulysses and his men are not ready because they are full of food. Ulysses hubris or excessive pride causes all his troubles.