Tragedy – Types of Tragedy Flashcards
What is the story of Oedipus the King?
the original tragic hero
a prophecy was made that will murder the King of Thebes. he was left on a mountain and found by king and queen of Corinth. the prophecy was made again and Oedipus left to save king of Corinth from the prophecy. on his way to Thebes, he killed the king of Thebes without realising. He saved Thebes by solving a riddle - he marries his Queen of Thebe. He has children with the queen (unknowingly his mother). to get rid of plague, he had to find out who killed the old king - blind prophet told him it was him. Queen hung herself and he gauges out his eyes
In what ways is Blanche a tragedy?
she has nobility - fall from status and wealth fatal flaw = living an illusion leaves as the strongest character can’t adapt to surroundings rise and falls of tensions
What 3 stages can tragedy by divided into?
- exposition
- growth and vicissitudes of conflict
- issue of conflict in tragedy
What is exposition? How is this applicable to Streetcar?
state of affairs from which conflict arises
Blanche’s experience of death
Give an example of growth and vicissitudes of conflict in Streetcar?
the Napoleonic code
What is the issue of conflict in Streetcar?
the rape scene
What does Hegel believe about tragedy?
“tragedy arises when a hero courageously asserts a substantial and just position but in doing so simultaneously violates a contrary and likewise just position and so falls prey to a one sidedness that is definition at one and the same time by greatness and guilt.”
What does Schopenhauer reject?
rejects idea of poetic justice
“the demand for so called poetic justice rests on entire misconception of nature of tragedy”
What is poetic justice?
villainy is punished
virtue is rewarded
What is the true sense of tragedy according to Schopenhauer?
“the true sense of tragedy is deeper insight of original sin”
What are the 3 ways of tragedy according to Schopenhauer?
1- “by means of a character of extraordinary wickedness becomes the author of misfortune”
2- “blind fate - chance and terror”
3- “characters of ordinary morality are so situated with regard to each other than their position compels them … to do each other the greatest injury without anyone being entirely in the wrong”
What is Schopenhauer’s theory of the protagonist of tragedy?
“the egoism of the protagonist is purified by suffering almost to nihilism”
as the protagonist realises their feelings, their suffering increases
What do the events of a tragedy lead to according to Nietzsche?
the events of a tragedy are supposed to discharge pity and fear
What doesn’t tragedy need according to Nietzsche?
no poetic justice
doesn’t need a backbone of morality or restoration
What are the 11 things that make up a revenge tragedy?
- usually one or more characters seek revenge
- Machiavellian villain
- Dumb show
- on and off stage murders
- soliloquies
- ghosts to persuade revenge
- physical torment
- sudden reversals - turning point
- heroes actions are debated for morality - pause/delay in revenge
- snowball effect
- incest
