Shakespearean

Tragedy


Sreeja, Liezl, Kim, Brian, & Michelle

Note to Reader

Control the slides with the spacebar to advance the slides in order correctly. If you want a map of the slides, hit esc.
And yeah, I know the theme I used here is different than the one we presented with. Sreeja doesn't like white text. :P


Background of His Tragedies

  • Definition of tragedy

  • Developed out of 16th century tragedies
    • Earlier tragedies emphasized tragic kings and leaders

  • Disturbing - evoke horror and pity

  • Many based off of history


Cases

  • 10 generally considered tragedies
      • Titus Andronicus
      • Romeo and Juliet
      • Hamlet
      • Othello
      • Macbeth
      • King Lear
      • Anthony and Cleopatra
      • Coriolanus
      • Timon of Athens



However, many of his tragedies overlap in style.

Much Ado About Nothing 
    • classified as a comedy
    • ...but has many tragic elements
Timon of Athens
    • sometimes classified as a comedy



Shakespearean vs. Greek





Compared to Greek tragedies, Shakespeare's feature:

  • a smaller stage
  • more characters
  • not as much religious significance
  • an emphasis on the tragic flaw




Play Format




Act I: Exposition

  • Outlines the situation
  • Introduces main characters
  • Begins the action
    •


Act II: Development

  • Continues action
  • Introduces complications
    •



Act III: Climax

  • Conflict reaches highest point 
  • Change of direction starts



Act IV: Falling Action

  • Further developments
    • but momentum slows
  • Tension heightened by false hopes and fears



Act V: Resolution

  • Conflict resolved
  • Revelation and downfall of tragic hero



Common Elements

  • Focus on powerful central character 
    • Tragic flaw -  his most outstanding characteristic
    • Realistic protagonist
  • Ends in death of most major characters
  • Chorus


Soliloquy

  • Speech only the audience can hear
  • Purpose:
        • Reveals speaker's mood, character, opinion, motive
        • Creates suspense
        • Foreshadows events
        • Explains matters
        • Reviews past events
        • Reinforces theme




Aside

  • Brief comments intended for audience
  • Purpose:
      • Draws significance for something being done
      • Explains plot development
      • Adds humor
      • Foreshadows events


  • Dramatic Irony
  • Humor
  • Suspense

 

 
  • Contrast
  • Fate
  • Pathetic Fallacy
  • The Supernatural
         



Human Weakness

  • Tragic flaw
      • Character's most central quality is also his downfall
      • Often a good, noble man
      • Example: Macbeth
      • Tragic flaw could be a "positive" quality

Catharsis



Four Main Tragedies


                      1. Hamlet                                     2. Othello


Four Main Tragedies

 
                             3. King Lear                        4. Macbeth



Video Summary