Transcript Tragedy: Elements, Structure, and Conflict
Shakespearean Tragedy
Structure and Conflict
What is Tragedy?
What is Tragedy?
What’s the difference between a
Tragedy
and a
Sad Story
?
Origins of Tragedy
The Greek philosopher Aristotle first defined tragedy in his book Poetics written in about 330 BCE.
Tragedy is when bad stuff happens to good people – who kind of deserve it.
Elements of Tragedy
A Tragic Hero Hamartia Peripeteia Anagnorisis Catharsis Restoration of Social Order
The Tragic Hero
The tragic hero is someone we, as an audience, look up to — someone
superior
.
The tragic hero is
nearly perfect
, and we identify with him/her
Hamartia
Although he is nearly perfect, the hero has one flaw or weakness We call this the “tragic flaw,” “
fatal flaw
,” or
hamartia
.
The most common form of hamartia is
hubris
, or excessive pride.
Peripeteia
Also called
Reversal of Fortune
The “fatal flaw” brings the hero down from his/her elevated state.
Renaissance audiences were familiar with the “wheel of fortune” or “fickle fate.” What goes up, must come down.
Anagnorisis
Anagnorisis is the moment when a character makes a critical discovery. Anagnorisis originally meant
recognition
in its Greek context, not only of a person but also of what that person stood for. It was the hero's sudden awareness or realization of things as they stood, and finally, the hero's insight into a relationship with an often antagonistic character in Aristotelian tragedy.
Catharsis
“Catharsis” is the audience’s
purging of emotions
through
pity
and
fear
.
The spectator is purged as a result of watching the hero fall.
Vicarious lesson
A story that evokes these emotions in the audience has successfully taught a
vicarious lesson
.
Restoration of Social Order
(
Dénouement)
Tragedies include a private and a public element
The play cannot end until society is, once again, at peace.
Structure of Tragedy
William Shakespeare wrote many tragedies in his prolific career. In each, he adhered to a rigid structure that has proven to be successful in capturing an audience’s attention.
This structure has been used as a
formula
for hundreds (thousands?) of plays and movies over the past four centuries.
The Structure of Tragedy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Exposition Exciting Force Rising Action Climax Falling Action Catastrophe
Exposition
The exposition describes the mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the play. The time and place will be identified as well as the main characters and their positions, circumstances, and relationships to one another.
Exciting Force
Also sometimes called the complication or initial incident, the exciting force is what “gets things going.” The exciting force thus begins the
conflict
will continue throughout the play.
which
Rising Action
The series of events leading to the climax comprise the rising action. These events provide a progressive intensity of interest for the audience. The rising action will involve more than one act.
Climax
The climax represents the turning point of the play. From this point on, the Shakespearean hero moves to his inevitable (often grisly) end.
Falling Action
The falling action includes those events occurring from the time of the climax up to the hero’s death. The episodes will show both advances and declines in the various forces acting upon the hero.
The Catastrophe
The catastrophe concerns the necessary consequences of the hero’s actions (death). The catastrophe will be characteristically simple and brief.
Tragedy Structure
Act I: Exposition
,
Exciting Force
, Rising Action
Act II:
Rising Action
Act III: Act IV:
Rising Action, Falling Action
Climax
, Falling Action
Act V:
Falling Action,
Catastrophe
A. Exposition B. Exciting Force C. Rising Action D. Climax E. Falling Action F. Catastrophe
B C D A E F
Conflict
Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.
Types of Conflict
There are two categories:
Internal Conflict
Man vs. Self
External Conflict
Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Man vs. Nature
Internal Conflict: Man vs. Self In this type of conflict, the main character is torn between two or more ideas/courses of action.
“
Should I stay or should I go?
If I go there will be trouble, But if I stay it will be double
.” -- The Clash
External Conflict: Man vs. Man
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character. The conflict can be physical, psychological, or even philosophical.
External Conflict: Man vs. Society This type of conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.
External Conflict: Man vs. Nature This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.
The End
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