Tragedy : An Introduction
Jan 16, 2016
Tragedy : An Introduction
Tragedy: A serious and often somber drama, written in prose or verse, that typically ends in disaster and that focuses on a character who undergoes unexpected reversals
A Quick Definition
Tragedy and it’s origins
Created by the Greek Playwrights and Philosophers: Aristotle, Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus
At the root of tragedy is the dual recognition that humankind suffers terribly, but that suffering is without meaning.
What is the philosophy behind Greek Tragedy?
The Nature of Tragedy According to Aristotle’s
Poetics
The Meat and Potatoes of Tragedy It is an imitation of an action of high
importance, a single unified action that is serious, complete, probable, and of a serious magnitude
It concerns the fall of man whose character is good, lifelike, believable and consistent
The Tragic Figure Criteria
High Born
Important
Admirable Traits
How is the fall of the character caused? Hamartia is caused by
some error or frailty in the protagonist and not some vice or depravity.
If the character flaw is overwhelming pride then it is Hubris
More Characteristics of Tragedy
For the tragic hero there is a movement from happiness to victory
The language is embellished with artistic ornament
The tragedy is presented in the form of action, not narrative
It arouses in the audience the emotions of pity and terror resulting in the catharsis of these emotions
More on the Elements of TragedyA complex plot
Characters
Thought, Diction (metaphor)
Last Three (I mean four) things on
the Elements of Tragedy I Promise… Peripety: The change from one state to
it’s opposite Discovery: A change from ignorance to
knowledge Suffering: an action of a destructive,
painful theme… PS…Tragedy never provides a solution
that removes the conflicts of people. Humanity and life are seen as problems. Life is a riddle that can never be solved.
Clean up notes for homework and turn in tomorrow with your first Learning Log… A Business Letter or Memo to Mr. Tovar . Begin with “Although there a many interpretations of Tragedy, I believe Tragedy is….” (one page maximum, typed, Times New Roman, 12 Font in using the proper format).