Tragedy
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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In general usage a tragedy is a real world event with a sad and unfortunate outcome. However, throughout much of Western thought, tragedy has been defined in more precise terms, following the precepts set out by Aristotle and based upon Greek tragedies: it is a form of drama characterized by seriousness and dignity, and involving a great person whose downfall is brought about by either a character flaw or a conflict with some higher power such as the law, the gods, fate, or society. It should be noted, however, that the definition of tragedy that Aristotle puts forward merely requires a reversal of fortune (Peripeteia) from bad to good (as in the Eumenides) or good to bad (as in Oedipus Rex). In classical usages it can be spelled tragœdy, and in Elizabethan usages it can also be spelled tragedie.
See also
- Classicism
- Comedy
- Domestic tragedy
- Hamartia
- Peripeteia
- Shakespearean tragedy
- She-tragedy
- Tragic hero
- Tragicomedy
