Tragedy Vs. Comedy
GHS Fall 2012
Drama and Theater
What makes a tragedy a tragedy?
 What makes a comedy a comedy?

What is the broad definition?
Tragedy=depicts a downfall, or there is a
fatal misjudgment that leads to a fall.
Comedy=a happy ending, and a typical
theme of someone rising to a fortune (this
doesn’t always mean $)

Examine these quotes. . .
“Laugh and the world laughs with you;
weep and you weep alone.”
 Even a happy life cannot be without a
measure of darkness, and the word happy
would lose its meaning if it were not
balanced by sadness.
 “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

Examine these quotes. . .
“Believe only half of what you see and
nothing that you hear.”
 “The world is a tragedy to those who feel,
but a comedy to those who think.”
 “There is a thin line that separates
laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy,
humor and hurt.”

Now it is your turn. . .

Create your own quote about tragedy and
comedy.

He is my own: “Without lies there would
be not truth, and without deception there
would be no reason to seek it.” DJH
Characteristics and History

What do you remember from the Greek
and Medieval periods?
Characteristics and History
Tragedy and comedy have evolved over
time and offer and interesting way of
looking at how time, place and ideas are
reflected in drama, and in life.
 What are the characteristics of modern
tragedy and comedy? What movies or
televisions shows would you categorizes
as either a tragedy or comedy?

Examples
Oedipus Rex, Hamlet, Much Ado about
Nothing, the Tempest.
 What about Everyman? It’s a morality
play but would you say it’s a tragedy or a
comedy?
 Tartuffe and A Doll’s House.

Essential Questions. . .
How do I use drama to express my ideas
and feelings?
 What are the purposes of Drama?
 How has drama changed through the
centuries? Tragedy? Comedy?
 Is it difficult for modern audiences to see
the humor in Greek, Medieval and
Shakespearean plays? Why?

Gallery Walk
We are going to critique quotes about
tragedy and comedy, and then. . .
 We will add one of our own! Or one that
we remember.
 This will be a group activity, so
participate!!!
