1. The classic definition of tragedy and comedy is simply about the way the story ends: tragedy has a sad ending and comedy has a happy one.

2. Tragedy is connected to old age, winter, night time, fear, discouragement, darkness, and death. It lacks optimism and is filled with irony and pessimism. The pop culture idea is that audiences come away from tragedies (e.g. King Lear) with renewed faith in the human spirit’s ability to survive.

3. Symbolically, comedy is connected to summer, youth, bright and active parts of the day, and other happy representations of vigor and strength. The popular culture ties comedy in with smiles and laughter, while literary criticism ties it to the optimistic idea that chaos and disruption will be changed to order and hope. In the classical sense, “comedy” isn’t necessarily funny, but in contrast to “tragedy” it has a happy ending.

4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detail page&v=yPLcZ5Rk3Lg#t=104s http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detail page&v=yPLcZ5Rk3Lg#t=104s

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detail page&v=b6yYd6Pq7Ic http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detail page&v=b6yYd6Pq7Ic

6. Try thinking of examples from television, film, or literature that clearly fit into one of the two categories.