Tragic Terminology Flashcards
Catharsis
The purging of emotions experienced by the audience/readers
Peripeteia
The reversal of fortune/fate experienced by the tragic protagonist
Machiavellian
A trait to describe a character who is prepared to act immorally to achieve what they want
Hubris
An excess of pride
Hamartia
The error of judgment (tragic flaw) made by the protagonist that sets their peripeteia in motion
Megalopsychia
The ‘greatness of soul’ that the protagonist should possess - outlined by Aristotle
Anagnorisis
The point of realization
Soliloquy
When a character speaks their thoughts aloud when alone (intention of no one hearing)
Monologue
Where a character externalizes their thoughts so that the the audience can hear/see
Dramatic monologue
When a character externalizes their thoughts intentionally to another character/characters
Tragic flaw
A defect in a character that causes their destruction (hamartia)
Calamity
An event causing great distress, loss and misfortune
Catastrophe
A tragic event causing great damage or suffering, usually a reversal of fortune
Tragic irony
When the audience is aware in advance that the tragedy will occur
Dramatic irony
Where the audienceknow something that the characters don’t - audience is given more info
