IB English Literature: Drama – Tragedy Terminology

Act I: creates mood, tone, setting; introduces characters and conflict(s). The play’s Exposition conveys information that is relevant to understanding the plot such as setting, events that have already occurred, mood, and main characters.

Act II: action rises and tension builds because of conflicts between various characters

Act III: peak of action and the turning point of the play; action and intensity decline after this act

Act IV: focuses on actions of the forces who oppose the protagonist; suspense is maintained until the tragedy occurs

Act V: the moment that marks the protagonist’s tragic flaw, usually ending in the hero’s death.

A protagonist who starts out in a high rank in society; well respected; and fall to disaster because of a character flaw and forces beyond his/her control.

A personality failure that cannot be overcome and leads to the hero’s downfall and/or death.

When the audience knows something that characters on stage do not know.

When a character says one thing, but really means something else.

A literary outcome in which bad characters are punished and good characters are rewarded.

An extended metaphor that controls the entire poem.

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

A character who complements/contrasts main character, & whose interaction with the main character give insight to the main character’s nature.

Demise of tragic hero because of things he can’t control (e.g. fate) & things he can control (e.g. decisions, bad judgment)

“The function of tragedy is to effect a pleasurable catharsis of the emotions of pity and terror.”

A release of emotions (e.g. crying at the end of a movie): The emotional purgation of negative feelings known as Catharsis involved, according to Aristotle’s Poetics, two emotions: Eleos (pity) and Phobos (fear). If the audience did not feel pity for the tragic hero in a play, or feel fear at his downfall, the play failed in its purpose.

The reversal of fortune in the life of the tragic hero.

Tragic hero’s recognition of his contribution to his downfall, & his reaction & change thereafter; what allowed the TH to have tragic capactiy.

Tragic flaws/errors in judgment that lead to downfall of TH

A form of personification that applies human-like characteristics to animals or objects

A story told within another story.

Gradually exposing the reader to background information about the story’s world to subtly clue the readers into the world the author is building.

Dramatic dialogue characterised by briefly, punchy intermittent dialogue between two characters; each of whom both normally speak in verse.

a play or novel containing elements of both tragedy and comedy

(n.) a play filled with ridiculous or absurd happenings; broad or far-fetched humor; a ridiculous sham

A 19th century artistic movement in which writers and painters sought to show life as it is rather than life as it should be

a statement that has two meanings, one of which is dirty or vulgar

A device in which a character in a drama makes a short speech which is heard by the audience but not by other characters in the play

flashback; an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point in the story

In literature, the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem.