TRAGEDY’S FOUR STAGES By Joe Bunting

WHAT IS ‘TRAGEDY’ Death happens in the end Hero/Protagonist sinks into darkness, evil Protagonist causes ultimate death or Destruction by the villain or antagonist Greeks found all hero’s tragic

ANTICIPATION STAGE Hero thinks something is missing Power Fame Specific love interest Something else? Must have it Disaster dominos

DREAM STAGE Tragic hero pursues MacGuffin (an object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance) No-turning-back situation No one can stop, counsel, advise, help protagonist Protagonist succeeds; then fails

FRUSTRATION STAGE Tragic hero hits roadblocks Small annoyances grow Hero becomes worst enemy More dark acts seal his fate Reader alerted this story ends badly

NIGHTMARE STAGE Tragic hero unravels He senses opposing forces or fate closing in Paranoia and fear increase Struggles even harder Makes bad decisions

DESTRUCTION OR DEATH WISH STAGE Tragic hero/Protagonist fails Enemies overcome him He falls to some act of violence Darkness dissipates Survivors rejoice The World continues

PLOT MAP Hook/Exposition – hero arrives, background explained Plot Point 1 – Hero gets ambitious for … ? Plot Point 2 – Hero sacrifices other ambition, resources, relationships, skills to pursue goal Plot Point 3 – Hero perceives future success, sacrifices more Plot Point 4 – Hero is thwarted by … ? Plot Point 5 – Hero becomes antagonist to self and others Climax – Hero destroys self, loses future Resolution – life goes on without hero

BRAINSTORM TRAGEDIES YOU IDENTIFY Classic examples Macbeth Hamlet Monster stories King Kong Mobster stories Goodfellas Scarface The Departed

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN Pick one of the five stages of tragedy Anticipation Dream Frustration Nightmare Destruction or Death Wish Write a scene for 15 minutes Share