A tragic hero can be defined simply as the protagonist of a tragedy. The Greek philosopher Aristotle, however, endowed this individual with a number of specific characteristics. The first of which is his ability to evoke fear and pity from an audience.
Earthquakes are caused by either volcanic activity or shifting of massive tectonic plates underneath the surface of the earth. The plates have a ton of pressure and are pressing against each other, and when the plates suddenly shift it causes the entire ground to move, shake or break apart.
On the surface, this moves and shakes the ground and can be very damaging to poorly built structures. The most powerful earthquakes can destroy even the best built structures. They can also cause other disasters, such as tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. Earthquakes occur along fault lines and are unpredictable.