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.
Shallow earthquakes cause the most damage because the focus is near the Earth's surface where people live. Just above the focus on the land surface is the earthquake's epicenter (Figure 7.26). It is the epicenter of an earthquake that is reported by scientists and the media.