Shakespearean Tragedy – Key Elements Story concerned primarily with ONE person Story concerned primarily with ONE person Leads up to and includes the DEATH of the hero Leads up to and includes the DEATH of the hero Is a tale of suffering and calamity resulting in death Is a tale of suffering and calamity resulting in death Suffering and calamity are unexpected and exceptional Suffering and calamity are unexpected and exceptional May feature COMEDY/COMIC RELIEF May feature COMEDY/COMIC RELIEF

Key Elements cont’d. Features total reversal of fortune, coming unexpectedly upon a man who stands in high degree/elevated status Features total reversal of fortune, coming unexpectedly upon a man who stands in high degree/elevated status Shakespearean tragedy is ALWAYS concerned with persons of ‘high degree’; when he falls, it produces a sense of contrast, of the powerless- ness of Man and the capriciousness of Fate or Fortune Shakespearean tragedy is ALWAYS concerned with persons of ‘high degree’; when he falls, it produces a sense of contrast, of the powerless- ness of Man and the capriciousness of Fate or Fortune

Key elements cont’d. Calamities of tragedy for Shakespeare proceed mainly from ACTIONS – the actions of Men Calamities of tragedy for Shakespeare proceed mainly from ACTIONS – the actions of Men Hero always contributes in some measure to his own downfall Hero always contributes in some measure to his own downfall Actions are the predominant factor; deeds characterize the doer Actions are the predominant factor; deeds characterize the doer Always is DRAMATIC (characteristic of Shakespeare) Always is DRAMATIC (characteristic of Shakespeare)

Key Elements cont’d. Occasionally, characters reflect abnormal conditions (insanity, hallucinations) Occasionally, characters reflect abnormal conditions (insanity, hallucinations) Often includes Supernatural element in the problems the characters must face Often includes Supernatural element in the problems the characters must face Allows some influence by Coincidence or Serendipity (but used sparingly) Allows some influence by Coincidence or Serendipity (but used sparingly) May feature conflict within the hero or with another character May feature conflict within the hero or with another character

Key Elements cont’d. Hero’s internal struggle may result in showing his greatest power Hero’s internal struggle may result in showing his greatest power Central characters are exceptional beings; their suffering is unusual; their nature is exceptional Central characters are exceptional beings; their suffering is unusual; their nature is exceptional Tragic characters are made of the stuff we find within ourselves and within people who surround the central character Tragic characters are made of the stuff we find within ourselves and within people who surround the central character

Key Elements cont’d. Fundamental tragic trait – an incapacity to resist the forces which draw the character in a specific direction Fundamental tragic trait – an incapacity to resist the forces which draw the character in a specific direction Inspires specific emotions within the audience (sympathy, pity, admiration, terror, awe) Inspires specific emotions within the audience (sympathy, pity, admiration, terror, awe) Hero’s tragic trait is also his greatest trait Hero’s tragic trait is also his greatest trait Is never depressing – hero’s struggle or failure shows the audience human possibility Is never depressing – hero’s struggle or failure shows the audience human possibility

Key Elements cont’d. Tragedies reflect a secular world (no religious influences) Tragedies reflect a secular world (no religious influences) No trace of Fatalism in Shakespeare No trace of Fatalism in Shakespeare Shakespearean tragedy never asks reader/ Shakespearean tragedy never asks reader/ audience to decide if the hero is RIGHT vs. audience to decide if the hero is RIGHT vs. WRONG WRONG Cause of the conflict? Always EVIL in its fullest sense (which results in the TRAGEDY) Cause of the conflict? Always EVIL in its fullest sense (which results in the TRAGEDY)

Structure of Shakespeare’s Tragedy Exposition – the situation out of which the conflict arises is described Exposition – the situation out of which the conflict arises is described 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th Acts – Explains definite beginning, growth and vicissitudes of the conflict 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th Acts – Explains definite beginning, growth and vicissitudes of the conflict 5 th /Final Act – Shows issue of the conflict in a catastrophe 5 th /Final Act – Shows issue of the conflict in a catastrophe May feature a ‘plot-within-a-plot’ or a ‘play- within-a-play’ May feature a ‘plot-within-a-plot’ or a ‘play- within-a-play’

Structure cont’d. Features rising and falling action Features rising and falling action Alternation of plot – oscillating movement/actions (moves back and forth) Alternation of plot – oscillating movement/actions (moves back and forth) One side is definitely seen as advancing to a certain point in the conflict (KEY = a turning point in the story) One side is definitely seen as advancing to a certain point in the conflict (KEY = a turning point in the story)