Aspects of Tragedy

Question 1

1. Describe the two types of tragic texts.

Answer 1

classical, and about public figures, like Lear.

domestic, and about ordinary people, like Tess.

Question 2

2. Which two things are important in regards to the settings of tragedy?

Answer 2

Place and time.

Question 3

3. The journey towards death of the protagonist lists 8 typical characteristics of protagonists. What are they?

Answer 3

Flaws.
Pride.
Folly.
Blindness.
Insight.
Discovery.
Learning.
Being a mix of good and evil.

Question 4

4. Name the three roles of a tragic villain or opponent.

Answer 4

To directly affect the fortune of the hero.
To engage in a contest of power.
To be at least partly responsible for the hero’s fate.

Question 5

5. What do we call it when the hero’s fate seems inevitable?

Answer 5

Fate.

Question 6

6. What does the behaviour of the hero do?

Answer 6

Affects the world and characters around them.

Creates chaos.

Question 7

7. The significance of …

Answer 7

Violence and revenge.

Humour and moments of happiness.

Question 8

8. The structural patterns of the text move from …. to ….

Answer 8

Complication to catastrophe.
Order to disorder.
Climax to resolution.
Prosperity and happiness to tragic death.

Question 9

9. This aspect of tragedy uses a word that is also used in the elements of crime, and can be taken in two ways.

Answer 9

The use of plots and sub-plots.

Both the plot of the play, and the plotting of the villains

Question 10

10. How is language used in a tragedy text?

Answer 10

To heighten the tragedy.

Question 11

11. The last aspect, and how you should always finish an essay:

Answer 11

Ultimately, how the tragedy affects audiences, acting as a commentary on the real world, and leading to an understanding of the human condition.