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Tragedy as a Literary Theory

Tragedy is a significant literary form that explores human suffering and the downfall of noble characters, often resulting from fate or character flaws. Defined by Aristotle and A.C. Bradley, it evokes emotions like pity and fear, leading to catharsis for the audience. Key characteristics include a tragic hero, hamartia, peripeteia, and the influence of fate and supernatural elements, with lasting impacts on modern literature.

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6 views

Tragedy as a Literary Theory

Tragedy is a significant literary form that explores human suffering and the downfall of noble characters, often resulting from fate or character flaws. Defined by Aristotle and A.C. Bradley, it evokes emotions like pity and fear, leading to catharsis for the audience. Key characteristics include a tragic hero, hamartia, peripeteia, and the influence of fate and supernatural elements, with lasting impacts on modern literature.

Uploaded by

asariharnishshih
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Tragedy as a

form of literature
Presentation by Harnish,
Roll no.46,
From semester 6.
Introduction

•Tragedy is a form of literature, especially drama.


•Explores human suffering, conflicts, and the downfall of a noble
character.
•Results from fate, character flaws, or external forces.
•Significant genre since ancient times, prominent in Greek and
Shakespearean traditions.
•Aims to evoke emotions like pity and fear.
•Leads to a sense of catharsis (emotional cleansing) in the
audience.
Definition
• Aristotle's Definition: In his work Poetics, Aristotle
defines tragedy as "an imitation of an action that is
serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude, in
language embellished with artistic ornament, in the
form of action, not narration, and effecting through
pity and fear the proper purgation of these emotions."
• A.C. Bradley's Definition: A tragedy is "a story of
human actions producing exceptional calamity and
ending in the death of the hero."
• Shakespearean Tragedy: William Shakespeare
portrayed tragedy as the downfall of a great character
due to a tragic flaw (hamartia), fate, or both. His
tragedies include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and
Macbeth.
Characteristics of Tragedy
•Tragic Hero: The protagonist is usually a noble figure with great
potential but suffers due to a tragic flaw or fate. (Example: Oedipus
, Macbeth).
•Hamartia (Tragic Flaw): A character defect (such as excessive
pride or ambition) leads to the hero’s downfall.
•Catharsis: The audience experiences emotional purification
through pity and fear.
•Peripeteia (Reversal of Fortune): The hero’s situation changes
from good to bad unexpectedly.
•Anagnorisis (Recognition): The hero realizes the truth about
their downfall too late.
•Fate and Supernatural Elements: In classical tragedies,
destiny often plays a crucial role, while in Shakespearean
tragedies, supernatural elements (ghosts, witches) contribute to
the tragic events.
•Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces—internal (within
the hero) or external (society, fate, or other characters).
•Serious and Elevated Language: The language used in
tragedies is often poetic, grand, and serious, reflecting the
importance of the subject matter.
Tragedy remains a powerful literary form, influencing modern plays,
novels, and films by exploring human emotions and moral dilemmas.
THE END

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