Key Terms in Tragedy

Dramatic Irony

  • Definition: The gap between the audience's knowledge and the characters' knowledge.
  • Importance: This technique creates tension as the audience knows crucial information that the characters do not, leading to heightened emotional responses.

Peripeteia

  • Definition: A sudden and dramatic reversal of fortune experienced by a character in a tragedy.
  • Example: A character believes they are achieving success, only to face a dramatic setback ("everything is going fine… WHOOPS, NOT!").

Paradox

  • Definition: A statement that appears to contradict itself but may reveal a deeper truth.
  • Importance: Paradoxes challenge readers and audiences to think critically about themes and meanings.

Pharmakos

  • Definition: A figure in Greek drama symbolizing disorder and chaos, said to be a source of societal problems.
  • Meaning of the term: Translated literally as "medicine" or "poison."
  • Function: The pharmakos must be purged or removed to restore order in the world of the play, echoing the idea of a "scapegoat."

Hamartia

  • Definition: The tragic flaw in a character's personality, often an extension of their virtues.
  • Common manifestation: Excessive pride, known as hubris, which leads to poor choices and ultimately tragedy.

Hubris

  • Definition: Excessive pride or arrogance that leads to a tragic downfall.
  • Importance: Hubris serves as a common theme in tragedies, illustrating the fine line between confidence and arrogance.

Scapegoat

  • Definition: An individual or group blamed for problems within a community or group.
  • Role in tragedies: The scapegoat often becomes the focus of societal anger, providing a means of managing collective guilt.

Catharsis

  • Definition: The emotional release experienced by the audience while viewing a tragedy.
  • Impact: Catharsis allows audiences to confront their own emotions and experiences through the lens of tragic characters.

Chaos and Cosmos

  • Chaos: Represents disorder, disruption, and disturbance in the narrative.
  • Cosmos: Signifies order, logic, and reason, often portrayed as the desired state after chaos has been resolved.