Elements of Greek Tragedy Part II

Elements of Greek Tragedy Part II

​Literature 10th Grade

Greek tragedies are serious dramas, many of which were written during the fifth century B.C. They are based on Greek myths, and they describe the downfall of a noble man or woman. The downfall is due to the character’s actions; the actions are controlled by fate, and the main character often has a tragic flaw or a characteristic that leads to the unfolding of the tragedy. Often, the theme of a Greek tragedy includes a warning against human limitations and against pride.

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• ​The main character, tragic hero, or protagonist

• Hamartia

• The antagonist

• Dramatic irony

​The elements of Greek tragedy are...

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​The subject of the play who experiences this reversal of fortune

​Main character/Tragic Hero/Protagonist

​a mistake or an error in judgment, sometimes due to character weakness or ignorance

​Hamatria

​an adversarial character or opposing force, contributing to the protagonist’s downfall

Antagonist

​

the contradiction between what a character thinks and what the audience knows to be true

​​Dramatic irony

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Multiple Choice

Greek tragedies are serious dramas, many of which were written during the...

• fifth century A.C.

• fifth century B.C.

• fourth century B.C.

• first century B.C.

Multiple Choice

Greek tragedies are based on...

• Greek myths.

• Roman Myths

• tragedies.

• dramas.

Multiple Choice

Often, the theme of a Greek tragedy includes...

• a heartbreak love story.

• a romance.

• a comedy.

• a warning against human limitations and against pride.

Fill in the Blanks

The elements of Greek tragedy are:

Multiple Choice

The main character, tragic hero, or protagonist is the subject of the play who experiences this reversal of fortune

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Hamartia is an adversarial character or opposing force, contributing to the protagonist’s downfall

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Dramatic irony is the contradiction between what a character thinks and what the audience knows to be true

• True

• False