Tragedy Terminology Flashcards
Anagnorisis
The point when the tragic hero recognises the mistake he has made
The catastrophe
An event causing great and usually sudden damage or suffering
Catharsis
(Emotional cleansing) healing for the audience through their experience of these emotions in response to the suffering of the character in the drama
Chorus
A group of people that come on and explain what’s happening in the play or fill in gaps in the plot
Hamartia
The tragic hero’s fatal flaw or mistake that makes the ‘perpeteia’ possible and to an extent, inevitable
Hubris
Excessive pride or self confidence
Naturalism
Extreme realism used to create an illusion of reality to an audience
Pathos
Feeling or emotion (something that evokes pity or sadness)
Opposite = bathos (lack of feeling)
Peripeteia
Experiences a reversal in fortune or change in circumstance
The point where everything goes wrong
Tragic flaw/ fatal flaw
Hamartia.
The flaw in the character that ultimately leads to his downfall
Tragic hero/ tragic protagonist
1 protagonist (main character)
A great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall suffering or defeat due to their hamartia
Antagonist
The adversary of the protagonist who creates the problems
Machiavel
A character who is prepared to behave in an immoral way in order to achieve what he/ she wants
Malcontent
A character dissatisfied with the protagonist’s decision
Great chain of being
Natural order of things (god at top)
