Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Elements Explanation: The 5 Elements of Tragedy at A Glance
Elements Explanation: The 5 Elements of Tragedy at A Glance
Elements Explanation
A main character cursed by fate and possessed of a
Tragic Hero
tragic flaw.
A Struggle Between Good This struggle can take place as part of the plot or exist
and Evil within the main character.
Hamartia The fatal character flaw of the tragic hero.
The release of the audience's emotions through
Catharsis
empathy with the characters.
Supernatural Elements Magic, witchcraft, ghosts, etc.
3. Hamartia
Hamartia is the Greek word for “sin” or “error”, In other words, hamartia refers to
the hero's tragic flaw. It is another absolutely critical element of a tragedy. Every
hero falls due to some flaw in his or her character.
4. Catharsis
Catharsis is a remarkable feature of a tragedy. It refers to the cleansing of the
audience's pent-up emotions. In other words, tragedies help the audience to feel
and release emotions through the aid of tragedy. When we watch a tragedy, we
identify with the characters and take their losses personally. A tragedy gives us an
opportunity to feel pity for a certain character and fear for another, almost as if we
are playing the roles ourselves.
.
5. Supernatural Elements
Supernatural elements are another key aspect of a tragedy. They play an import
role in creating an atmosphere of awe, wonder, and sometimes fear. Supernatural
elements are typically used to advance the story and drive the plot.