Even so, this play still fits the Aristotelian definition of a tragedy. Aristotle wrote that for a play to be a tragedy, it must have several characteristics. First, it must show life as being better than it is in reality. ... One of the most important characteristics of a tragedy is that the story must stir in the audience feelings of fear or pity. ... Because this play evokes such pity on part of the audience even though it portrays life as being superior than in reality, it is indeed a tragedy. ...

• Word Count: 679
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

William Shakespeare's Macbeth does fit the classic Greek definition of tragedy. The classic Greek definition of tragedy consists of four requirements, figure of heroism, fate must have its way, the protagonist must fall, and pity/fear experienced by the audience for the protagonist. ... As the audience undergoes the tragedy with Macbeth, they feel a sense of pity and fear that one would receive the same fate as the protagonist. ... He is now beginning the descent of tragedy that will entice Macbeth further into the black hole, also know as the transpire of tragedy. Dramatic irony is...

• Word Count: 813
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• Grade Level: High School

Many people will say that The Bicycle Thief is a tragedy. ... Aristotle specifies in chapter 15 that in order for the antagonist to be a tragic hero, he must be good, have good qualities, be realistic, and be consistent (Aristotle 55). ... The main reason an audience member would argue that the film is in fact a tragedy is because of its ability to evoke pity and fear in the audience. ... The way the actions in the film are arranged help to arouse pity and fear in the audience. ... This fulfills the need of a tragedy being complete. ...

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" In other words, a tragedy must be drastic and very serious; it should limit itself to one main issue to avoid confusion, and told with a rhythmic and harmonious language. The works must be dramatized and evoke feelings of pity and fear from the audience, for the main character or tragic hero as he or she moves toward a destructive end, eventually leading the audience to "explode" at the ultimate downfall of the hero. Based on Aristotle's interpretation of tragedy, one may conclude that the theme of tragic heroism is a recurring and essential theme in the development not o...

• Word Count: 1098
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In fact, modern tragedy has the potential to affect an audience even more than archaic tragedies, but only if the tragic hero is an average man, whose downfall can be linked to man's quest to belong in society. ... Yet, we can also see Willy as a "kingly- hero, although to do so we must view him through the eyes of his sons. ... A powerful feeling is felt in the audience when they see Willys only option is suicide. ... The possibility of victory must be there in tragedy. ... In the case of tragedy to the common, everyday man, which is easily related to, the audience feels the pity com...

• Word Count: 1965
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

The extent of Cleopatra's powerful seductiveness evokes her magical force, the enchantress who works witchcraft," filling the air with "strange invisible music." ... Such a demanding love borders on the self-destructive, as in "Romeo and Juliet," making both Shakespearean plays tragedies. ... While we can sympathise with Antony's passion for Cleopatra, we can also understand his emotional dilemma, "these strong Egyptian feathers I must break," his sense of duty to Rome "a most noble swerving." ... The audience's ability to fully comprehend the play doesn't necessarily requi...

• Word Count: 1463
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Aristotle also suggests that pity and fear, which a tragedy evokes, should come from the events, and the action and not just from the mere sight of something on stage. ... He believes that to save his land he must bring to justice that murderer of the previous King- unbeknown to him- he killed the king who was also his father and he then married his mother. ... In Oedipus" character for example, we learn his background and his history, the audience has time to relate to and understand his situation and predicament and this in turn helps put the audience in a position where they will relate t...

• Word Count: 1959
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

First, the tragedy must be an imitation of life in the form of a serious story. ... The purpose of a tragedy is to evoke a sense of fear and pity from viewers. ... He must, first of all, be a great man. ... At the same time, he must be able to evoke fear and pity from the viewers. ... Watching this, an audience is certainly moved to both pity and fear. ...

• Word Count: 1836
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The play King Oedipus by Sophocles is a Greek tragedy, which explores the irony of fate. ... It encourages the audience to sympathise with the main character yet also creates a sense of fear that his tragedy could become their own. ... This feeling is intensified when Teiresias warns, "You are to be pitied, uttering such taunts as all men's mouths must some day cast at you." ... From this moment forward darkness, ironically, evokes negative and miserable connotations. ... The tragic hero, Oedipus, now blinded and somewhat wiser, realises he must trust in the Gods. ...

• Word Count: 1597
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• Grade Level: High School

Their plays unveil the cold reality of the vulnerability of humans, which shadows Aristotle's idea of tragedy. Aristotle believed that tragedy is a representation of terrible and piteous events arousing sorrow and fear. ... Clytemnestra, Prometheus, and Oedipus Rex are all protagonists who evoke pity and fear due to their mixed natures, partly good and partly bad. The tragedy in a plot does not rise out of the characters themselves, but instead tests characters through destiny. ... All tragic heroes must have a hamartia, that it is not within their character, or else the audience would...

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Another component that distinguishes a tragic hero from a non-hero is the character's ability to move the audience to feel pity for him. ... The Choragus is the first to evoke the feeling of pity for Creon from the audience when he says, "But here is the King himself: oh look at him, bearing his own damnation in his arms". ... The loss of Creon's whole family and his condemnation to hell due to his wrong doings can now be imagined so that the audience is in Creon's place, evoking fear and pity for now they know Creon's fate. ... Creon's arrogance and need for dominance...

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This is seen by observing the way in which he exploits the Elizabethans' confusion concerning religion, his use of conflicting cultures to evoke responses in the audience, and the significance of Hamlet's Christian knowledge. ... Hamlet is set in Denmark, but written for an English audience. ... In conclusion, it is observed that, Shakespeare's plays ranged from light-hearted comedies to gut-wrenching tragedies. ... It must have a stop in the last judgment, and in the winding up of the universe. But on the way to this general fulfillment, it must have a stop in the individual ...

• Word Count: 1416
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

For these images they embodied were not technically their own personal dreams, but merely projections they assumed would evoke the staring they yearned for. ... Without the audience there would be no performers and without the performers there would be no audience. ... The people who stare yearn for a chance to see the masquerades in tragedy because it makes them feel better about themselves. ... Her imitation of glamour fascinates him to a point where he must have her, but unlike the people who stare, Tod wants Faye to stare back. ... It teaches us that you must look a certain way, act a cert...

• Word Count: 1258
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

One of his more poignant tragedies is his play "Medea" which illustrates the final interaction between Medea and her once heroic husband, Jason. ... Although Medea is the protagonist of the tale, Palmer writes that it is Jason who evokes pathos in his audience. ... Aristotle maintained that all Greek tragedies must arouse feelings of "pity" and "fear" for their characters. ... An apology to Jason seems quite unnecessary, for he is as equally to blame for the tragedy as Medea is. ... Palmer himself states that "her position is a lonely one and her speeches must have made a deep impression on ...

• Word Count: 1942
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The September 26th episode of the "NBC Nightly News" was also primarily concerned with the effects of the recent tragedy. ... The show closed with a segment about the hero dogs of the tragedy and emphasized the notion that "we are all in this together." ... The segment about memorable still photos established a sense of patriotism, and the ritual view of communication is concerned about how it evoked a sense of humanistic appeal for today's heroes. ... One must be outside of an ideology to create change; however, one can never be outside of an ideology long before it is changed to a ne...

• Word Count: 1580
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Marlowe has crafted his play to embody deliberate contradictions, ambiguity and conflict to evoke thought, not just in Faustus, but also in his audience. ... The bad angel shows Faustus hell" (and now must taste hell's pains perpetually.") ... When the clock strikes 11,it indicates to the audience and Faustus that he only has one hour to live. ... He realises his fate and this draws the audiences" sympathy. ... The real tragedy is that Faustus did not believe that repenting would save him. ...

• Word Count: 941
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• Grade Level: High School

Iago When Shakespeare attempted to create the ultimate villain (and I must say he was stunningly successful), Iago was the result. This cunningly evil character always keeps the audience guessing at his true personality until he has the opportunity to plan in solitude or so gracefully manipulate an inferior intellect that he can let his true colors shine while preserving his "image". ... (She must change for youth.) ... Since 1604, this Shakespearean tragedy has captivated audiences of all ages. The play begins when Othello, a Moorish nobleman and soldier of fortune, unconscious...

• Word Count: 954
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Pynchon involves his audience in that they also have to interpret countless symbols and metaphors to arrive at the novel's meaning. ... Oedipa Mass also evokes the reader to think of Newton's laws, where Oedipa is acted upon by the gravity of her surroundings. ... One aspect that unites Oedipa and the audience is the state of paranoia. ... Pynchon creates a web of events that the reader must interpret. The most inventive method that Pynchon uses for involving the reader in the novel in The Crying of Lot 49 is the mock-Jacobean drama "The Courier's Tragedy."" ...

• Word Count: 1566
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• Grade Level: High School

Brown's methods were evoked beautifully with balance in both pathos and logos creating text so vivid and distressing that you felt as if you were a native yourself experiencing the massacre. ... By doing this at the beginning of the chapter, Brown effectively brings in his audience in order for them to digest the upcoming factual evidence. ... Although some of the imagery is grotesque along with a few of the pictures, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" is a must read in any American History class and a must to those who wish to bring enlightenment into their reading. ... This book will crea...

• Word Count: 1382
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

As is only expected in traditional tragedy, Shakespeare's dark tale Macbeth, concludes with a righteous character, Malcolm, the heir to the Throne of Scotland, commenting on what has passed. ... For this they must also be condemned. ... She too loves her husband; her first words to the audience (after reading Macbeth's letter) include her solemn wish that Macbeth will indeed 'be what [he is] promised'. ... Similarly, her rapid and pathetic fall into madness evokes our sympathy. ... These actions, regardless of his righteous qualities, leave Malcolm and the audience to sur...

• Word Count: 1419
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Her 'hallucinatory' techniques, particularly the dream scene has quite a mixed reaction from common audiences to critics. ... Portrait of a Lady is a perfect example of film giving too much to look at, not just to the audiences, but to the critic as well. ... The big shot, drug addicted, alcoholic, washed up millionaires ideology which is a stain that a very small minority certainly has evoked, is at the same time hard to let go, particularly for those who want to believe it. ... There are so many different things to contend with, especially in the world of cinema and its mass audi...

• Word Count: 2182
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare is a classic tale featuring death, revenge, ambition, tragedy, lust, and deceit. ... The whole play evokes a terrible tragic end in which everyone is slain. ... This helps makes Hamlet's character more three-dimensional and makes it more appealing to the audience. ... Laertes is a classic revenge character from a revenge tragedy which this play is categorised as. ... We see that Laertes has realised his mistake and has learned that he must answer to his own actions. ...

• Word Count: 1548
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

The Chorus descends from the top of the staircase and introduces the players to the audience. ... The Chorus then recounts the events leading up to Antigone's tragedy. ... The Chorus appears and announces that the tragedy is on. ... Death, treason, and sorrow are "on the march," moving in the wake of storm, tears, and stillness. 4.1 Summary The Chorus continues, evoking tragedy's stillness in the hush when the executioner raises his ax, the silence when two lovers stand naked before each other for the first time, the silence within when the roaring crowd acclaims a winner, leavi...

• Word Count: 4678
• Approx Pages: 19
• Grade Level: High School

The term documentary evokes the notion in the spectator that what appears on screen is factually based. ... As Brian Rohrbough, whose son Daniel died at Columbine, said of Moore (and Bowling For Columbine), 'This is just a guy trying to capitalize on the tragedy of others.' ... The format aligns the spectator with the filmmaker from the start and therefore the filmmaker operates as a guide through the film mediating what we the audience should believe. ... Filmmakers like Broomfield and Moore have a much greater level of control of audience perception than other documentary filmmak...

• Word Count: 2396
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The falling action will seal the tragedy. ... The tragedy is further intensified when Iago kills his wife, Emilia, and when Othello kills himself. ... Another minor theme of Othello is love, and the play can be considered a romantic tragedy. ... Othello is eventually led to murder his beloved, turning the romantic play into a tragedy. ... The good Othello is driven into a rage at his betrayal and easily succumbs to Iago's suggestion that both his wife and "her lover" must be killed. ...

• Word Count: 4125
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: High School