Characteristics of Shakespearean Tragedy… A tragedy is a drama in which a series of actions leads to the downfall of the main character, called the tragic hero. The plot builds to a catastrophe, or a disastrous final outcome, that usually involves the death of the hero and many others.

Tragic Hero The tragic hero at the center of a tragedy is a person of high rank who accepts his or her downfall with dignity. The tragic hero is a common archetype. A tragic flaw is an error in judgment or a weakness in character, such as hubris. The tragic hero recognizes the flaw and its consequences, but only after it is too late. This realization helps to redeem his character. Despite the tragic hero’s tragic flaw, there is usually some redeeming quality or qualities that make us sympathize with or root for the tragic hero.

More About the Tragic Hero The catastrophe must be a result of the tragic hero’s tragic flaw. It is not usually an accident or coincidence. The tragic hero is usually a “human” character with which the audience can relate. The tragic hero usually encounters some disappointed hope or frustrated ambition.

Dramatic Irony Results when the audience knows more than one or more of the characters Helps build suspense

Soliloquy A speech given by a character alone on stage, used to reveal his or her private thoughts and feelings

Aside A character’s remark, either to the audience or to another character, that no one else on stage is supposed to hear

Blank Verse & Iambic Pentameter Blank verse is unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter. Shakespeare’s plays are primarily written in blank verse Iambic pentameter is a pattern of rhythm that has five unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable in one line of poetry

Rhetorical Devices A rhetorical device is a use of language for a particular effect. Shakespeare uses many rhetorical devices, such as repetition (the use of words and phrases more than once in a short space to emphasize ideas), parallelism (the repetition of grammatical structures to express ideas that are related or of equal importance, and rhetorical questions (a question that expects no answer; used to make the speaker’s rightness seem self-evident).

Stage Directions Stage directions are written in brackets or are italicized. Be sure to read them!

Dramatic Structure The structure of the plot is usually as follows: Exposition and exciting force (background information and incident that sets the action in motion): Act 1 Rising Action (complications in main plot and sub plot): Acts 1-2 Climax (plots come together; turning point that changes the main character’s fate): Act 3 Falling Action (Conflict unravels; things fall apart; main character wins or loses): Acts 4-5 Catastrophe (Conflicts are resolved—disastrous final outcome): Act 5

Words to know… An: if Marry: mild oath or exclamation Aught: anything Prithee: please Beseech: beg Save: except But: only Soft: wait a minute Durst: dared Thither: there Ere: before Wherefore: why Hie: hurry Whither: when Hither: here Withal: also Mark: notice

Monologue A long speech given onstage in the presence of others.

Apostrophe This is a speech given by an actor onstage in which he or she addresses a personification or abstract concept that is not physically present onstage.

Subplot A smaller plot that is happening at the same time as the main plot; usually involves less important characters.