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What Defines Tragedy?. Where does tragedy come from? The Greek philosopher Aristotle first defined “tragedy” in his book Poetics written in about 330.

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Presentation on theme: "What Defines Tragedy?. Where does tragedy come from? The Greek philosopher Aristotle first defined “tragedy” in his book Poetics written in about 330."— Presentation transcript:

1 What Defines Tragedy?

2 Where does tragedy come from? The Greek philosopher Aristotle first defined “tragedy” in his book Poetics written in about 330 B.C.

3 Aristotle’s definition of tragedy had SIX parts: Plot (Dramatic Structure) Character Thought Diction (delivery/elocution) Spectacle (visual demonstration) Melody (musical/fluidity)

4 What Defines Shakespearean Tragedy? A Tragic Hero The Tragic Flaw or Hamartia Reversal of Fortune Catharsis (emotion) Restoration of Social Order

5 The Tragic Hero The tragic hero is someone we, as an audience, look up to—someone superior. The tragic hero is a character that the audience can identify with The tragic hero features a fatal flaw that exposes his/her weakness. What makes each of these figures a tragic hero?

6 Tragic Flaw The hero is nearly perfect The hero has one flaw or weakness We call this the ‘tragic flaw’, ‘fatal flaw’, or hamartia. Ex: Pride

7 Reversal of Fortune The ‘fatal flaw’ brings the hero down from his/her elevated state. (Frankenstein? Winston?) Renaissance audiences were familiar with the ‘wheel of fortune’ or ‘fickle fate’. What goes up, must come down. Cycle of life

8 Catharsis We get the word ‘catharsis’ from Aristotle’s katharsis. ‘Catharsis’ is the audience’s purging of emotions through pity, fear, anger, etc. The spectator is purged as a result of watching the hero fall. This is why we cry during movies!

9 Restoration of Social Order Tragedies include: a private element (within a family or small group) a public element (society or governmental order) The play cannot end until society is, once again, at peace.

10 The End


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