Tragedy

On Tragedy

Shakespeare​

Drama or performance has been used for centuries to entertain audiences, share traditional stories, and recount historical facts. Two of the most common forms of drama are tragedy and comedy. In this text, you will learn about some of the elements that are commonly found in tragedies.

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Before reading, watch the video below, which shares some ideas about why tragedies are often so exciting to watch.

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*Watch video on Tragedy​

Hamlet| Tragedy

Shakespeare

​Introduction to Tragedy & the Tragic Hero

Drama is a form of fiction that uses performance to tell a story. Performances can take many different forms including theatrical plays with characters delivering heart-wrenching monologues or musicals where emotions are conveyed through clever song lyrics. These performances typically include different characters, props, and costumes, which help the audience enter the world being presented.

Hamlet | Tragedy

Shakespeare

One common form of drama is tragedy. Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, defined tragedy as a form of drama whose plot is centered on human suffering for the purpose of evoking feelings of pity or fear in the audience or catharsis. Shakespeare’s plays Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth are both tragedies. Most tragedies follow a similar plot structure. At the beginning of the play, the audience is introduced to the characters and the story’s problem. As the play progresses, characters encounter various challenges or situations to advance the plot until the story’s problem is resolved in the final act.

Hamlet | Tragedy

Shakespeare

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of catharsis?

• Sympathizing with pitiful characters

• Acting out revenge

• Releasing strong emotions

• Inability to care about the characters

Multiple Choice

All tragedies...

• were written by Aristotle.

• end with the death of the protagonist.

• involve romantic relationships.

• focus on the suffering experienced by the characters.

The protagonist of a tragedy is known as the tragic hero. The tragic hero makes choices that inevitably leads to his/her downfall (coup de grace). Tragic heroes share some or all of the character traits described in the list below.

Hamlet | Tragedy

Shakespeare

Six Traditional Characteristics of the Tragic Hero

The following are six characteristics that Aristotle identified as traditional characteristics of a tragic hero. Shakespeare, mirroring much of his writing off the Ancient Greeks, composed tragedies with tragic heroes that exhibited these same characteristics. Modern authors may take more creative licenses in creating their tragic heroes, but many contemporary reiterations of the tragic hero are based off these six traits.

Hamlet | Tragedy

Shakespeare

1. Noble Birth

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Most tragic heroes come from a place of elevated status in society; this ensures that tragic heroes experience an even more dramatic “fall from grace” than the common man.

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On Tragedy

Open Ended

Name a movie or tv show you have watched that stars someone from "noble birth".

2. Excessive Pride / Hubris

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Despite being warned over the course of the tragedy, tragic heroes are too proud (and too stubborn) to heed the advice of those warning them.

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On Tragedy

3. Tragic Flaw/ Hamartia

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Tragic heroes all have a weakness in character, or a tragic flaw, that causes the character’s fall from grace.

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On Tragedy

4. Reversal / Peripeteia

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All tragic heroes experience a sharp turning point in their journey as a character. Being noble from birth, this reversal changes the path of the character and shifts him closer and closer to doom.

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On Tragedy

5. Self- Realization/ Anagnorisis

Once the climax in the plot has occurred, the tragic hero will experience a realization that he, in fact, has caused the central suffering of the tragedy. Despite this anagnorisis or self-realization, the character is unable to change his tragic fate at this point in the story.

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On Tragedy

6. Excessive Suffering Causing Catharsis

The suffering that the tragic hero experiences during the tragedy are extreme and brutal, causing an emotional reaction from the audience. Traditionally, it was believed that if an individual were to view a tragedy, the fear, and pity that he/she would experience while watching the suffering of the tragic hero would be a way to release personal emotions that were bottled up.

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On Tragedy

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of Hubris?

• Excessive pride

• Excessive joy

• Poor and Unfortunate

• A reversal of a situation

Multiple Choice

Which word means a sharp turning point in a hero's story?

• Hubris

• Harmatia

• Peripetia

• Anagnorisis

Multiple Choice

Which word means the realization that a character makes that they are at fault for their own downfall?

• Hubris

• Harmatia

• Peripetia

• Anagnorisis

Open Ended

Name a drama that you have watched (it could be a play, TV show, or movie) that you would classify as a tragedy. Using evidence from the text, explain why the drama you selected is a tragedy and what you find most appealing about it.