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Tragedy. For Romeo and Juliet English 1 Mr. Hewitt. Tragedy Menu. Tragedy: An Introduction Tragedy: Tragic Hero Tragedy as Universal. Tragedy: An Introduction. Tragedy is a form, or genre, of Drama. “Drama” is synonymous with “play.”
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Tragedy For Romeo and Juliet English 1 Mr. Hewitt
Tragedy Menu • Tragedy: An Introduction • Tragedy: Tragic Hero • Tragedy as Universal
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
Examples of Tragedy • Oedipus Rex by Sophocles • Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare • Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Menu
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
Characteristics of Tragedy Question • Which of these is not a characteristic of Tragedy? Tragic hero undergoes a downfall. The play usually ends unhappily. The tragic hero overcomes fate. The tragic hero gains wisdom. Menu
Let’s try again … • That is a characteristic of Tragedy! • Let’s return to the “Characteristics of Tragedy” page so we can review! Let’s read again… Menu
Excellent!! • You are correct! • Unfortunately, the tragic hero does not overcome their fate, they are doomed to a tragic end! Let’s continue to the next slide! Menu
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
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
“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
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”? Answer in Microsoft Word Menu
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
Tragedy as Universal, cont. • What do you think? • Is Tragedy universal? • Discuss. FIN THE END Menu
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. <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tragedy&action=history> Menu