Elements of A Shakespearean Tragedy
Elements of A Shakespearean Tragedy
Usually there is only one tragic hero. Exceptions- The Love Tragedies
Plot
1. The tragic story leads up to, and includes, the death of the hero.
2. The suffering and calamities that befalls the hero are unusual and exceptionally disastrous.
Explanation of the Calamity-
The suffering befalls to a conspicuous person.
The suffering is itself of a striking kind.
The suffering, as a rule, is unexpected.
The suffering, as a rule, contrasts with previous happiness and/or glory.
The action of the protagonist/tragic hero is most often motivated by external and internal conflicts, which lead to complications from which
further conflicts arise- all in a kind of snowballing effect, driving the action toward a tragic resolution.
External Conflict
1. Usually, there are two persons, of whom the hero is one.
2. Two Parties or Groups, one of which the hero leads
3. The passions, tendencies, ideas, principles, forces, which animate these persons or groups
Internal Conflict
1. Shakespeare’s tragic hero, though he pursues his fated way, is, at some point, torn by an inward struggle.
2. A comparison of the earlier and later tragedies show this struggle is most emphasized in the later tragedies.
3. The conception of outer and inner struggle includes the action of “spiritual forces.” The “spiritual forces” generating the internal turmoil for
the hero is the combination of the pressures of the external and internal struggles or conflicts.
1. Exposition- The exposition is the task of the first and second act. Here the reader learns about the general setting, the persons, the character
traits, problems of the play, the major conflict, and the tragic hero’s flaw.
2. Development/Rising Actions- This comprises the second, third, and fourth acts. Time and urgency becomes important and the action
increases. Eventually, the tragic hero will end up alone.
3. Development/Falling Action- In act four, opposing forces begin to openly resist and make plans for the removal of the tragic hero, and the
tragic hero's power is declining as the opposition’s power advances.
4. Resolution- In the final act, the opposition reaches its full strength (Climax) and defeats/destroys the isolated, weakened hero. This is where
Tragic Recognition takes place, the reader becomes aware of the greatness of the man just loss, and order is restored.
Vocabulary