1. Classical Tragedy Essential Concepts

2. Origins in Ancient Greece Festivals of Dionysus in the Theatron Festivals of Dionysus in the Theatron Comedy, Tragedy, Satyr plays Comedy, Tragedy, Satyr plays Aristotle Aristotle Sophocles Sophocles Aeschylus Aeschylus Euripides Euripides

3. Aristotle’s Observations "Tragedy is a form of drama exciting the emotions of pity and fear. Its action should be single and complete, presenting a reversal of fortune, involving persons renowned and of superior attainments, and it should be written in poetry embellished with every kind of artistic expression." "Tragedy is a form of drama exciting the emotions of pity and fear. Its action should be single and complete, presenting a reversal of fortune, involving persons renowned and of superior attainments, and it should be written in poetry embellished with every kind of artistic expression." (Poetics) (Poetics)

4. Pity and Fear: Audience Reaction Empathy--"feeling-into"--is a projection of oneself into another character; an identification in which one seems to participate in the actions and feelings of the other. Empathy--"feeling-into"--is a projection of oneself into another character; an identification in which one seems to participate in the actions and feelings of the other. Sympathy--"feeling-with"--is a little more detached, a fellow-feeling for the other; as when two strings are tuned to the same note, one will vibrate in sympathy if the other is sounded. Sympathy--"feeling-with"--is a little more detached, a fellow-feeling for the other; as when two strings are tuned to the same note, one will vibrate in sympathy if the other is sounded.

5. Catharsis: The Outcome The writer presents "incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to interpet its catharsis of such of such emotions" The writer presents "incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to interpet its catharsis of such of such emotions" (Poetics) (Poetics)

6. Protagonist: The Tragic Hero In order for the tragic hero to arouse these feelings (pity and fear) in the audience, he cannot be either all good or all evil but must be someone the audience can identify with… In order for the tragic hero to arouse these feelings (pity and fear) in the audience, he cannot be either all good or all evil but must be someone the audience can identify with… …however, if he is superior in some way(s), the tragic pleasure is intensified. …however, if he is superior in some way(s), the tragic pleasure is intensified.

7. The Tragic Flaw: Hubris His disastrous end results from a mistaken action, which in turn arises from a tragic flaw or from a tragic error in judgment. His disastrous end results from a mistaken action, which in turn arises from a tragic flaw or from a tragic error in judgment. Often the tragic flaw is hubris, an excessive pride that causes the hero to ignore a divine warning or to break a moral law. Often the tragic flaw is hubris, an excessive pride that causes the hero to ignore a divine warning or to break a moral law. Hubris is also a belief that he or she is somehow above the fates, or in control of destiny. Hubris is also a belief that he or she is somehow above the fates, or in control of destiny.

8. Recognition: The Hero’s Suffering However, until the tragic hero recognizes that he is the cause (or he is the helpless victim) his suffering is not real for us. However, until the tragic hero recognizes that he is the cause (or he is the helpless victim) his suffering is not real for us. Once he recognizes his flaw, and chooses to suffer through it, even to the point of taking responsibility for it, he is worthy of our pity. Once he recognizes his flaw, and chooses to suffer through it, even to the point of taking responsibility for it, he is worthy of our pity. They see their destiny and deal with it. They see their destiny and deal with it.

9. Catharsis: Audience Reaction It has been suggested that because the tragic hero's suffering is greater than his offense, the audience feels pity (pathos) because the audience members perceive that they could behave similarly, they feel pity. It has been suggested that because the tragic hero's suffering is greater than his offense, the audience feels pity (pathos) because the audience members perceive that they could behave similarly, they feel pity. The catharsis of emotions that the audience feels “purges” it of impure emotions, thereby making them morally and intellectually purified. The catharsis of emotions that the audience feels “purges” it of impure emotions, thereby making them morally and intellectually purified.