Tragedy-and-Tragic
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Transcript Tragedy-and-Tragic
GREEK TRAGEDY
The Greek theatre or Greek drama is a theatrical tradition
that flourished in ancient Greece between c. 550 and c. 220 BC.
Athens, the political and military power in Greece during this
period, was the center of ancient Greek theatre.
Greek theater and plays have had a lasting impact on Western
drama and culture.
DEFINITION
A drama in which a character (usually a good and noble
person of high rank) is brought to a disastrous end in his or
her confrontation with a superior force (fortune, the gods,
social forces, universal values), but also comes to understand
the meaning of his or her deeds and to accept an appropriate
punishment.
SOPHOCLES
SOPHOCLES
(495 BC - 406 BC) was the second of three great
ancient Greek tragedians. He wrote 123 or more
plays during the course of his life.
Oedipus
Antigone
TRAGIC HERO
The tragic hero is a man of noble stature. He is not an
ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality and
greatness about him. His own destruction is for a greater cause
or principle.
“noble stature/high rank” usually means a king, duke,
prince, company owner, etc.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A
TRAGIC HERO
According to Aristotle:
1.
Usually of noble birth
2.
Hamartia – a.k.a. the tragic flaw that eventually leads to
his downfall.
3.
Peripeteia – a reversal of fortune brought about by the
hero’s tragic flaw
4.
His actions result in an increase of self- awareness and
self-knowledge
5.
The audience must feel pity and fear for this character.
THE “TRAGIC FLAW”
The “flaw” in the character is a defect which keeps
him/her from being aware of the situation around
him/her. The character does not understand (for much
of the story) his/her part of creating the situation.
The tragic flaw leads to the downfall of the tragic hero
THE HERO’S
UNDERSTANDING
The tragic hero has a “moment of
enlightenment” near the end of the story.
• He/she finally understands what he/she has done
wrong—how he/she contributed to the tragic
situation.
• The story often ends with the death of the tragic
hero.
TERMS TO KNOW
Hamartia- the hero’s flaw, error, or frailty
Hubris- a characters exaggerated pride or self-confidence
Catharsis- the spiritual plunge that is obtained when the
audience feels pity and terror/fear from what they see
happening on stage ( inspires viewer to lead a better life)
VIDEO CLIPS
Greek Tragedy
Tragedy