changingminds.org

How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

 

Disciplines

 

Techniques

 

Principles

 

Explanations

 

Theories

 

 

Home

 

Blog!

 

Quotes

 

Guest articles

 

Analysis

 

Books

 

Help us

 

Links

 

 

 

Tragedy stories

 

Disciplines > Storytelling > Plots > Classic story types > Tragedy stories

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

 

Description

A tragedy happens when particularly undesirable things happen. In the traditional tragedy this means that major characters die.

A typical storyline has a major character bravely fighting an illness whilst their loved ones look on in despair. 'Tear-jerker' stories like this use copious pathos to trigger emotion.

In the Greek sense, Aristotle defined a tragedy simply as including a reversal or fortunes, including from bad to good. By definition, Greek tragedy included plot (most important for Aristotle), characters, a chorus, thought, diction, music, and spectacle. The meaning evolved from this to anything serious (i.e. not a comedy) to something with an unhappy ending.

Example

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House

Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Discussion

Although it may seem strange to want to experience a sad story, there are several benefits we can get from this. It can provoke our need for stimulation: when you are bored, even sadness is better than nothing.

Seeing others being sad reassures us that we are not the only person who is sad (although sometimes it seems this way as others politely cover up their sadness with a false cheeriness).

Seeing others suffering a deep tragedy puts our petty worries into perspective.

Seeing others handle tragedy can teach us something about how we should handle our own problems.

See also

Comedy

 

And the original
paperback book

Add/share/save
this page:

Add to Google

 

 


Save the rain


 

 

Contact Caveat About Students Webmasters Awards Guestbook Feedback Sitemap Changes

 

 

  © Changing Minds 2002-2012

  Massive Content -- Maximum Speed

TOP