Notes on Dramatic Structure and Shakespearean Tragedy
DRAMATIC STRUCTURE
Introduction or Exposition
creates the tone
gives the setting
introduces some of the characters
supplies facts necessary to understand the play, such as events before the time
of Act I
Rising action
sets an “exciting force” in motion
consists of a series of stages of a conflict between the hero and counterplayers,
leading to the next stage, the climax
Climax (sometimes called the crisis)
the highest point of the conflict; the place at which the rising action becomes the
falling action
Falling action (usually shorter than the rising action)
stresses activities of forces opposing the hero. These must lead logically to the
disaster which closes the tragedy.
Often an event is included which delays the catastrophe and seems to offer a
way of escape for the hero.
Often relief scenes are used to provide an emotional break for the audience and
mark the passage of time.
Catastrophe
the failure, usually death, of the hero and even of the hero’s opponents
ARISTOTLE’S THEORY OF TRAGEDY
The purpose of tragedy is to arouse pity and fear in order to produce catharsis (a purging of
emotion) in the audience. Certain characters are generally considered to be characteristic of
tragedy. They are as follows:
1. The hero must be a person of high position, such as a king or queen. This person is
called the tragic hero.
2. The tragic hero has a tragic flaw; a basic personality error or frailty caused by bad
judgment, character, etc.
3. This tragic flaw causes much disorder in the realm, community, etc.
4. The tragic hero falls from his or her high position because of the tragic flaw.
5. With the downfall of the tragic hero, order is restored.
6. Hamartia -