Tragedy Defintion

Question 1

Define tragedy

Answer 1

a serious and often somber drama written in prose or verse that typically ends in disaster and that focuses on a character who undergoes unexpected personal reversals

Question 2

Define tragic hero

Answer 2

a person in a high social standing; a king or someone of noble class

Question 3

Define tragic flaw

Answer 3

A tradition their character that leads to their downfall

Question 4

Define hamartia

Answer 4

An error in judgement made by the protagonist

Question 5

Define hubris

Answer 5

excessive pride and self-confidence that leads to the hero’s downfall; a character usually has hubris because of their high social standing

Question 6

Define reversals

Answer 6

the heart of the play, when the readers begin to feel catharsis; it must be big, high to low situation

Question 7

Define catharsis

Answer 7

purging/purifying the readers by giving them the emotional response of pathos (pity) and fear based on what the character is going through

Question 8

Define anagnorsis

Answer 8

remembering back, knowing again, recognition/realization; a character goes from ignorance to understanding