Tragedy Terminology

When a situation is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in a play, is...?

dramatic irony

What is a list of characters in a play called?

dramatis personae

What comes after the play, used to sometimes provide an opinion on what happened?

epilogue

What comes before the play, used as an introduction?

prologue

Anagnorisis

recognition of a tragic error of judgement

catastrophe

a calamitous outcome which provokes an emotional response in the audience

catharsis

the feeling of renewal or hope after experience negative emotions

hamartia

protagonist's error of judgement

hubris

excessive pride which brings down divine punishment

megalopsychia

"greatness of soul"

nemesis

inevitable punishment or cosmic payback for acts of hubris

peripeteia

pivotal action that changes the protagonist situation from seemingly secure to vulnerable

tragic flaw

flaw in the personality of the protagonist

the unities

time, place, action; all limited

protagonist

leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work

eponymous

being the person after whom a literary work, film, etc., is named