1. Elements of Shakespearean Tragedy

2. The Globe Theatre
Shakespeare’s plays were first performed at the Globe Theatre in London.
The original Globe burned down in 1613.

3. When the flag was flying, it meant there was a performance that day.
No roof, so if it rained or was dark out, there was no performance.
3 stories high; wealthy theatre-goers would sit in these covered areas, with the most expensive seats highest up.
The poorest theater-goers could stand here to watch the play for a penny. They were called “groundlings.”
Circular or octagonal structure that could house over 2000 theater-goers.

4. A ceiling above the stage was painted with the starry sky—it was called the “heavens.”
A balcony above the stage also allowed for additional stage area.
There were few costumes, and even fewer props and scenery, so the set up of the stage was very important in Shakespeare’s Globe.
Doors on both sides of the stage allowed for actors to enter and exit.
A rectagular “apron” stage jutted out into the middle of the theater.
There were also trap doors in the stage to allow for special effects, like ghosts entering.

5. What is a tragedy?
A tragedy presents serious events that end unhappily.
The unhappy ending usually involves catastrophe or death for the main characters.

6. Shakespeare’s Characters
Types of characters you already know
protagonist
antagonist
A new type of character
foil character: a character whose personality and attitude contrasts sharply with another character
The differences make each character’s traits even more obvious

7. Foil Character Application
How do the characters in the following passage contrast with each other? What are each of their personality traits? What do their character traits make obvious about the other character?
Ann: Wow, what a beautiful sunny day!
Zoe: Great, now I have to worry about getting a sunburn.
Ann: Just look at all the lovely flowers blooming, though.
Zoe: Yeah, I guess I can count on my allergies acting up today.
Zoe’s negative outlook is a foil to Ann’s positive outlook. Each character’s viewpoint contrasts with the other’s.

8. Shakespeare’s Characters
The protagonist in a Shakespearean tragedy is a tragic hero:
A noble or good character
He/she has a lot to lose.
A flaw or weakness that leads to his/her downfall or death

9. Tragic Hero Application
How does the character in the following passage demonstrate the traits of a tragic hero?
Emma had worked long and hard to succeed in the business world, and now she was at the top , running her own billion dollar company, with thousands of employees working for her. Despite her success, she still found herself lacking confidence at times.
How do you know that Evelyn is noble/good?
Emma’s hard work shows her to be noble.
Emma is successful, so she has a lot to lose.
How do you know that Evelyn has a lot to lose?
Emma’s lack of confidence shows her weakness.
What is Evelyn’s flaw or weakness?

10. Shakespeare’s Characters
The tragic hero’s flaw or weakness is called a tragic flaw.

11. Tragic Flaw Application
How does the character in the following passage demonstrate a tragic flaw?
Emma’s lack of confidence made her afraid to trust anyone, yet left her desperate to prove herself successful.
This led her to make a very large and foolish investment, against the advice of everyone around her. Her company went bankrupt, and she lost everything she had.
Emma’s flaw makes her desperate to prove herself, so she makes a foolish decision, leading to the loss of everything.
How does Evelyn’s tragic flaw bring about her downfall?

12. Important Plot Elements of Tragedy
Death
Shakespeare’s tragedies always end in death.
Sometimes, all of the characters die at the end.
Other times, only the major characters die.

13. Important Plot Elements of Tragedy
Emotion
Shakespeare takes his readers to really high highs and really low lows.
He tries to make you upset.

14. Important Plot Elements of Tragedy
Catharsis
The audience feels an enormous release of emotion because of Shakespeare’s plots.
This release leaves you emotionally-drained.

15. Important Plot Elements of Tragedy
High Society
Shakespeare’s tragedies centers around high society and the upper class – kings, queens, and nobility.

16. Important Plot Elements of Tragedy
Chance
Everything is near-misses and coincidences.
The events are out of the control of the characters; their futures lay in someone else’s hands.

17. Dramatic Elements dialogue: conversation among characters
monologue: a long speech by one character directed toward at least one other character
soliloquy: a speech given by a character alone on stage
The character can be speaking to himself or to the audience.
A soliloquy lets the audience know the character’s private thoughts and emotions.
aside: a character’s comment, either to the audience or to another character, that other characters on stage do not hear
Also reveals the character’s private thoughts

18. Dramatic Elements Application
Is the following passage an example of dialogue, monologue, soliloquy, or aside? How do you know?
Princess: Kiss you? I’m not so sure about that. You’re a frog!
Frog: Believe me, you’ll be happy you did!
Princess: Well, if you say so.
There are two characters talking to each other.
This is an example of dialogue.
How do you know?

19. Dramatic Elements Application
Is the following passage an example of dialogue, monologue, soliloquy, or aside? How do you know?
Princess: Royal subjects, I stand here before you today to announce that not only have I found my Prince Charming; I have also learned an important lesson about looking past a person’s—or amphibian’s—outward appearance.
I hope that I can be a shining example of how to conduct yourselves
There is only one character speaking. There is no back-and-forth conversation between characters.
This is an example of monologue.
How do you know?

20. Dramatic Elements Application
Is the following passage an example of dialogue, monologue, soliloquy, or aside? How do you know?
Prince: Phase one of my plan is now complete: I’ve turned from a frog to a human and become engaged to the princess. It won’t be long now before I can begin phase two: total frog domination of the kingdom.
This royal palace will be all flies and lily pads when I get through with it.
There is only one character speaking, and it is pretty clear that he’s sharing his private thoughts and feelings.
This is an example of soliloquy.
How do you know?

21. Dramatic Elements Application
Is the following passage an example of dialogue, monologue, soliloquy, or aside? How do you know?
Princess: Oh, darling, I just can’t wait for our wedding. It’s going to be the most beautiful day ever.
Prince: Yes, it certainly will be.
For her, maybe.
There is more than one character on stage, but some of the prince’s lines are clearly not meant to be heard by that other character. Those lines show his private thoughts.
This is an example of aside.
How do you know?

22. More Dramatic Elements
dramatic convention: a plot idea that audiences accept as realistic even though it is extreme

23. More Dramatic Elements
The most common dramatic element in Shakespearean tragedy?
dramatic irony: when the audience knows more about what is going to happen than the characters do

24. More Dramatic Elements
Not all totally depressing and dismal!
Shakespeare also uses comic relief.
comic relief: a humorous scene or incident that relieves tension in a scene.

25. More Dramatic Elements
Some common ways Shakespeare uses comic relief:
puns: a play on words, sometimes on different meanings of the same word and sometimes on the similar meaning or sound of different words

26. More Examples of Puns
The best way to stop a charging bull is to take away his credit card.
A zoo had a camel with no humps. His name was “Humphrey.”
Have you ever heard of an honest cheetah?

27. Puns Application
Where is the play on words in the following passage?
Did you ever hear the one about the mushroom who couldn’t get a date?
“I don’t know why girls don’t like me…I’m such a fungi!”
The play on words, or pun, is on the word “fungi”. The joke is about a mushroom, a fungi, who doesn’t understand why he can’t get a date, because he thinks he’s a “fun guy.”

28. More Dramatic Elements
innuendo: an indirect remark about somebody or something, usually suggesting something bad, mean, or rude
double entendre: a double meaning; a word or expression can be understood in two ways, and usually one meaning is risqué (slightly inappropriate).

29. Poetic Terms
figurative language: language that communicates deeper meanings, beyond the surface meaning of words
simile: a comparison between two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”
Example: The girl’s hair was like a rabbit’s fur—soft and fluffy.
metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things that does not use the words “like” or “as;” a metaphor compares by saying one thing IS another thing.
Example: My mother is a rock—strong and hard to budge.
personification: when human qualities are given to a non-human object
Example: As I wrote, my pencil ran across the page.
hyperbole: a saying where the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect
Example: “I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!”