Genres Tragedy Tragedy is considered by many to be the highest literary achievement Sobering Thought Based on human emotion Achieving catharsis Timeless Tragedy Focus of the protagonist Ultimately fails in his or her struggle to achieve a goal ID: 565149
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Chapter 6 Notes" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Chapter 6 NotesSlide2
Genres: Tragedy
Tragedy is considered by many to be the highest literary achievement
Sobering
Thought
Based on human emotion
Achieving catharsis
TimelessSlide3
Tragedy
Focus of the protagonist
Ultimately fails in his or her struggle to achieve a goal
Conflict- man v. man, man v. nature, man v. deity, man v. society, man v. self
Arousal of pathos-the emotional side of humans—achieving catharsisSlide4
Aristotle
Defines protagonist as “average or better person who is brought from happiness to misery”
Acquires sense of awareness—of truth or of self
Alienated from society because of action or lack of action
Happens because of
hamartia
-character weakness or error in judgment (flaw)Slide5
Most common form is hubris
Hubris=excessive pride, often the tragic flaw of the main character in a tragedy
Why is hubris so detrimental to a character?Slide6
5 Characteristics of Tragic Characters
Has a flaw, makes an error = serious consequences
No apologies for their actions
Set goals based on their beliefs
Know the adage “everything worth having is worth sacrifice”
Character makes the sacrifice rather than asking another person tooSlide7
Audience feels pity of character or experiences fear
Aristotle thought this connection with the audience came about in two ways:
Spectacle (least important)
Structure and incidents of the play—the plot
This is the preferred way to get the audience to connectSlide8
Recognition
Achieving inner awareness or insight to truth
After the death of a loved one
Or identifying a loved one after death
Reversal-the ironic twist of fate
Basic definition of tragedy-a play that end unhappily, usually with the death or demise of the protagonistSlide9
Comedy
A play that is lighthearted, includes clever dialogue, and characters in funny situations. They ultimately have a “happy ending”
Protagonist overcomes opposing forces or achieves desired goals or both
Built around character, situation, and dialogueSlide10
Comic Situations
Mistaken identities
Rash promises
Series of events where everything seems to go wrong
Examples:
The Importance of Being Earnest, The Twelfth NightSlide11
Getting the Laugh
Exaggeration-overstating
Incongruity-out of place, time, or character
Stock market reference in
Flapper!
Anticipation-looking forward to the laugh, usually because of dramatic irony or foreshadowing
Ambiguity-puns and interpretations-Amelia
Bedelia
Recognition-discovering the hidden meaning
Protection-Nothing bad really happens-the cartoon factor
Relief-pent up emotions are released by laughterSlide12
Types of Comedy
Low comedy-focuses on physical antics-slapstick comedy
Farce-improbable characters and implausible coincidences and events
Burlesque- physical comedy and exaggeration
Parody-mockery of a certain person or work (SNL skits)Slide13
High Comedy- intellectual humor
The Importance of Being Earnest
Comedy of Manner-mocks the upper class and their mannerisms
Satire-ridicules human folly, social views or individualsSlide14
Other types of drama
Fantasy-unreal characters, dreams, imaginary times and places—the land of make-believe
The Wizard of Oz
Romantic Comedy-the love affair of heroes and heroines, ups and downs of the relationship, but it always ends happily
Taming of the Shrew
Sentimental Comedy
-marked by emotional and presentation of material, lacks humor
Short-lived genreSlide15
Melodrama-originating in 19
th
century England, use of stock characters, implausible plots, trite storyline, virtue vs. villain based on structure of tragedy, presents clear-cut view of morality, good characters suffer, but unlike tragedy, they always triumph at the end
Play of Ideas-problem play or social drama-deals with social problem, racism, classism, sexism, etc. Questions wrong or right, philosophical. Solution is usually presentedSlide16
Psychological Drama-battles the complexities of the human psyche and personal relationships-
The Glass Menagerie
Whodunit-solving a crime-the courtroom drama
Allegory-teaches moral concepts through characters who personify abstract qualities—truth, justice, love, etc. Slide17
Presentational v. Representational
Representational theatre is what we will attempt to create on stage. We want the audience to believe that they are seeing life the way it is. Actors make the audience believe that they actually are leading “real lives” on stage.
Difficult because we have to work at the natural action and reaction process
Actors struggle with this once we know the play well because our actions are so choreographed.Slide18
Presentational: This is strictly for the wow factor. It can be very entertaining for audience members because they become involved in the production.
Actions are much larger (
Cats
, the
Lion King
) because the purpose is to present, not represent.