Final answer:
A naïve hero in literature is a character with a limited view of the world, which differs from that of the author and reader. This contrast flatters the reader's intelligence and can create dramatic irony. Renowned authors like Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy use this device to engage the reader and highlight characters' naïveté.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept described in the student's question pertains to a literary character, often referred to as a naïve hero, whose perspective of the world is notably different from that of the author and the readers. This character's innocence or lack of worldly experience can flatter the reader's intelligence at the expense of the hero, as it allows readers to feel superior in their understanding of the complexities of the world, which the hero is yet to grasp.
In literature, this technique serves to engage the reader, invoking a sense of superiority or anticipation as they foresee the consequences of the hero's naïveté that the hero themselves cannot. This interplay between the character's perspective and the reader's knowledge creates dramatic irony. Authors like Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy masterfully employ such character perspectives to draw readers into their constructed worlds, while also highlighting the limitations of characters' understandings within those worlds.
Characters like Oedipus from Greek tragedies embody a different notion, where the hero's tragic flaw (in this case, arrogance) guides the character through a journey that ultimately leads to their downfall. The reader or audience, while empathizing with the hero, is also positioned to learn from their mistakes. This structure is intended to provoke a cathartic experience, as outlined in the context of Oedipus' character.