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Understanding Tragedy: Key Concepts and Terminology in Dramatic Literature

This guide explores the definition and characteristics of tragedy in literature, emphasizing its elements and impact. Tragedy is a serious play showcasing the profound downfall of a protagonist, evoking pity and terror. Key terms include catharsis, the emotional cleansing experienced through tragedy, and hamartia, the fatal flaw that leads to the protagonist's downfall. The guide ranks the critical elements of Shakespearean tragedy, illustrating the significance of components such as soliloquies and dramatic irony. Understanding these concepts deepens our appreciation of tragic drama's emotional and thematic power.

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Understanding Tragedy: Key Concepts and Terminology in Dramatic Literature

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Notes #16 - Tragedy It’s so great…

  2. What is “tragedy?” • Copy this definition: • A serious play representing the disastrous downfall of the protagonist which includes incidents that arouse pity and terror. • The tragic effect can be heightened by our awareness of admirable qualities in the protagonist (Baldick 260). • Paraphrase the definition on your notes.

  3. Tragic Terminology • Catharsis – the effect of being “purged” or “purified” by tragic drama. The pity and fear we experience in the tragedy cleanse us of these emotions (Baldick 35). • What’s this like? • Crying • Working out

  4. Tragic Terminology • Hamartia – the error or failure (action) that leads the protagonist to his or her downfall (Baldick 109). • Identify an example of hamartia from one of the works we’ve read thus far this year.

  5. Tragic Elements • Read the “Characteristics of Shakespearean Tragedy” section on pages 1026-1027. • Based on your understanding of tragedy, rank the seven characteristics according to how important you think they would be to a tragedy: • Soliloquy • Aside • Dramatic Irony • Comic Relief • Tragic Hero • Antagonist • Foil • Give a ONE SENTENCE EXPLANATION of why your TOP THREE are most important.

  6. Work Cited Baldick, Chris. Concise Dictionary of Literary Terms. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.

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