1. Tragedy For Romeo and Juliet English 1 Mr. Hewitt

2. Tragedy Menu Tragedy: An Introduction Tragedy: Tragic Hero Tragedy as Universal

3. Tragedy: An Introduction Tragedy is a form, or genre, of Drama. “Drama” is synonymous with “play.” Tragedy is defined in our Elements of Literature textbook as: A play that depicts serious and important events in which the main character comes to an unhappy end. What else can the word “tragedy” mean? Menu

4. Examples of Tragedy Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Menu

5. Characteristics of Tragedy The main character is usually dignified and courageous. His or her downfall may be caused by a character flaw, or it may result from forces beyond human control. The main character usually gains self-knowledge and wisdom. Menu

6. Characteristics of Tragedy Question Which of these is not a characteristic of Tragedy? Menu Tragic hero undergoes a downfall.The play usually ends unhappily. The tragic hero gains wisdom.The tragic hero overcomes fate.

7. Let’s try again … That is a characteristic of Tragedy! Let’s return to the “Characteristics of Tragedy” page so we can review! Menu Let’s read again…

8. Excellent!! You are correct! Unfortunately, the tragic hero does not overcome their fate, they are doomed to a tragic end! Menu Let’s continue to the next slide!

9. Tragic Hero Tragic hero – the central character of a tragedy. Usually, a noble figure of high importance who has a “tragic flaw” which leads him or her to a downfall. They have virtues and gifts that lift them above normal men and women. Menu

10. Tragic Flaw: “Hamartia” Tragic flaw – hamartia (“to miss the mark”) in Greek – the defect, character flaw, mistake, or imperfection that dooms the tragic hero to a tragic end. Sometimes it seems that the tragic hero cannot escape his or her fate. Menu

11. “Hope, that foul, deceitful thing” The following quote is from Antigone by Anouilh: “Tragedy is restful; and the reason is that hope, that foul, deceitful thing, has no part in it” There is no hope in a tragedy because the tragic hero is doomed, his or her fate is predetermined, already set. Question: Why do we watch Tragedies? Menu

12. Pause for Writing Answer the following questions in complete sentences using the TAG3x format: Have you ever felt a lack of hope? Have you ever felt that you were part of a real-life “Tragedy”? Menu Answer in Microsoft Word

13. Tragedy as Universal Universal – adj. – present or occurring everywhere Put simply, bad things happen to all of us and Tragedies to some, if not most, of us. To answer the question, “Why do we watch Tragedies?” Aristotle answered that it is cathartic – it helps us purge our anger at a world where Tragedies occur. Menu

14. Tragedy as Universal, cont. What do you think? Is Tragedy universal? Discuss. FIN THE END Menu

15. Citations Definition of Tragedy Cuddon, J.A. Dictionary of Literary Terms & Literary Theory. London: Penguin, 1999. Wikipedia Entry: Tragedy. 26 April 2008. Wikipedia. 21 April 2008. Menu