Shakespearean Tragedy Shakespearean Tragedy l A serious drama














- Slides: 14
Shakespearean Tragedy
Shakespearean Tragedy l A serious drama in which a protagonist suffers a series of unhappy events culminating in a catastrophe such as death or mental breakdown
Tragic Hero l Main character l Mistake/Character flaw → Demise l Famous Tragic Heroes: l Oedipus l Macbeth l Hamlet l John Proctor (The Crucible) l Michael Corleone (The Godfather)
Tragic Flaw l May be an intellectual mistake, an error in judgment, or a moral weakness l Ultimately leads to the downfall of the Tragic Hero
The Tragic Pattern High ranking hero possesses a Tragic Flaw → l Sense of Urgency → l Misunderstandings → l MURDER! → l Isolation of hero → l Mvmt. of Opposition → l l Recognition of Tragic Flaw → Final attempt to restore honor → l Realization of loss of greatness → l Death/Defeat of hero → l Restoration of Order l
Plot Structure l Exposition: setting, character background info. l Rising Action: conflicts begin l Falling Action: tragic hero’s initial decline l Resolution: tragic hero’s defeat
Shakespeare’s Tragedies Include:
Background Information
Tribute to King James I l Previously King James IV of Scotland l King’s Men l New interest in all things Scottish in England l Macbeth – Scottish l Setting - Scotland
Thane l Macbeth – Thane of Glamis l Thanehood – Knighthood l Freemen (not serfs/servants) l Fulfill one of the following: l Gain control of land l Make 3 sea voyages l Military service
Themes/Topics Addressed l Ambition l Obsession l Appearance vs. Reality l Guilt l Fate l Evil
l Blood/Milk/Water Motifs l Nature/Natural/Unnatural l Disease/Sickness l Male/Female l Sleep l Supernatural
The Curse of Macbeth l l l l l DON’T SAY the M-Word!!! Death! Illness! Stormy weather! Car accidents! Stab wounds! Fires! Suicide! Presidential Assassinations!
The Curse of Macbeth If you do say the M-Word while in production, do the following! 1. Leave the room 2. Turn around 3 times 3. Spit on the ground (or over each shoulder) 4. Knock on the door and ask permission to reenter