1. Tragic?

2. A Tragedy The Tragic Hero -Noble but imperfect (fatal flaw)
-Doomed from the start (Sense of inevitable tragedy)
-Dies
-Suffers more than they deserve
-Gains audience’s sympathy
Definition: Tragedy depicts the downfall of a noble hero or heroine, usually through some combination of hubris, fate, and the will of the gods. The tragic hero's powerful wish to achieve some goal inevitably encounters limits, usually those of human frailty (flaws in reason, hubris, society), the gods (through oracles, prophets, fate), or nature. Aristotle says that the tragic hero should have a flaw and/or make some mistake (hamartia). The hero need not die at the end, but he / she must undergo a change in fortune. In addition, the tragic hero may achieve some revelation or recognition (anagnorisis--"knowing again" or "knowing back" or "knowing throughout" ) about human fate, destiny, and the will of the gods. Aristotle quite nicely terms this sort of recognition "a change from ignorance to awareness of a bond of love or hate."

3. Free Write
Relationships are often influenced by our expectations of others. Consider the following roles in relationships:
•husband
•wife
•siblings
•in-laws
Select one of these roles and write 1-2 paragraphs about the “expectations” for that role. In other words, what kinds of responsibilities does that person have, what kinds of attitudes should he or she have, etc.

4. Read Opening Stage Directions
Draw the setting. How would you describe the atmosphere?
What are your first impressions of Blanche’s appearance and her behaviour?
Highlight any words or phrases that create sense of inevitable tragedy and explain why.

5. The Streetcar
As the play opens, Blanche has just arrived at Elysian Fields after having taken two streetcars, one named Desire and another called Cemeteries. Explain the symbolic significance of these two streetcars. What do they represent, and how might they relate to some of the play’s major concepts and/or themes?

6. Blanche “I, I I took the blows….”
What do we learn about Stella, Blanche and their relationship in this extract?
What tensions are emerging in the play?