Tragedy in the theatre

What is drama? Drama comes from a Greek word meaning “action” In classical theatre, there are two types of drama: Comedy: Where the main characters usually “get action” Tragedy: Where violent action leads to misfortune for the main characters

Plot Tragedy must have a complete plot “of a certain magnitude”—meaning it is serious in subject and tells a complete story that represents some larger truth. In a tragedy, plot is most important. The characters take backstage. The plot is single and complex, meaning there is only one outcome. In comedies, the plot is “double” meaning the good are rewarded and the bad punished.

3 Parts of a tragic plot Reversal: A situation seems to be developing in one direction then suddenly reverses to another (everything looks great, but then turns out to be bad) Recognition: A change from ignorance to awareness, often of some horrible event or secret Suffering: A destructive or painful act

Catharsis = is the shift of emotions—especially pity - any extreme change in emotion that results in renewal and restoration.

Main Character: The Tragic Hero A powerful man experiences a downfall or reversal of fortune through no real fault of his own. He is a victim of blindness Usually has a tragic flaw: some personal weakness. The Gods often play a part as well. This means that the tragedy comes through choice of action. There is no tragedy without free will.

Character It isn’t necessary for the main character to die at the end of a tragedy (though in Shakespeare they usually do.) the protagonist will mistakenly bring about his own downfall—not because he is sinful or morally weak, but because he does not know enough. Remember that the characters are less important than the plot. Characters in a tragedy should generate pity from the audience.

Language In a tragedy, the authors use of appropriate language, meter and rhythm is important. It changes in each part of the play as well, to reflect the mood and action. Look at I.iii.130 (“This supernatural soliciting…” Shakespeare invented a new rhythm that appears in this play, a sickening see-saw motion Aristotle saw great importance in the use of metaphors

Performance vs. Story A tragedy relies more on the dramatic performance of emotions than the narrative Author is looking to enact human truths and emotions—the story behind that isn’t as important. Narrative is just a vehicle through which truths are revealed

Catharsis At the end of the play, the viewer should feel a catharsis of the emotions pity and fear This means, you are contemplating these emotions in their pure state (you have cleaned out the excess) Because of the artistic way these emotions have been displayed, the viewer feels pleasure.

Debate: Is ‘The Titanic’ a “real” tragedy?

Process Form groups and work together to come up with an argument based on the set up of a tragedy Can you think of any modern movies/books that can fit into the tragedy genre? Explain your answers.

Dramatic Terminology Tragedy: A narrative about serious and important actions that end unhappily, usually with the death of the main characters. The play is broken up into acts and the acts are broken up into scenes. Monologue: A long uninterrupted speech given by one character onstage to everyone. Soliloquy: A long uninterrupted speech given by one character alone on stage, inaudible to other characters Aside: A short speech given by one character, traditionally the other characters cannot hear.

Dramatic Terminology He who farts in church sits in his own pew. Pun: A humorous play on words After that poisonous snake struck at me in the Arizona Desert I was really rattled. A gossip is someone with a great sense of rumor. A carpenter must have been here. I saw dust. Energizer Bunny arrested - charged with battery. Corduroy pillows are making headlines. The executioner decided to drop out of Executioner School. It was just too cut throat for him. He who farts in church sits in his own pew.

Dramatic Terminology Dramatic Foil: A pair of characters who are opposite in many ways and highlight or exaggerate each other’s differences.

Poetic Terminology Blank Verse: Unrhymed meter; unrhymed iambic pentameter specifically. Iambic Meter: Each unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed syllable. Couplets: Two consecutive lines that rhyme (aa bb cc). Usually followed when a character leaves or a scene ends. End-stopped Line: Has some form of punctionat at the end of the line (,;.!?). Run-on Line: Has NO punctuation at the end of the line and meaning is continued to following lines. Sonnet: A fourteen line poem using iambic pentameter and the following rhyme scheme: abab cdcd efef gg.

Poetic Terminology Internal Rhyme: Words rhyming inside one line. End Line Rhyme: Words rhyming at the end of consecutive lines. Perfect vs. Slant Rhyme: ball & hall are a perfect rhyme (end sounds the same). Ball & bell are slant rhymes (beginning and end sounds the same; middle sound is different). Alliteration: the repetition of the same beginning consonants Assonance: the repetition of the same vowel sounds in the middle of words Consonance: the repetition of the same ending consonants Onomatopoeia: words that are spelled much like how they sound.

Shakespeare’s 5 Part Storytelling Pattern: Act III: Crisis/Turning Point A series of complications Act IV: Falling Action Results of the turning point; characters locked into deeper disaster Act II: Rising Action A series of complications Act I: Exposition Establishes setting, characters, conflict, and background Act V: Climax/Resolution/Denouement Death of the main characters and then the loose parts of the plot are tied up