Greek Tragedy

Four Characteristics of a Tragic Hero

(According to Aristotle’s Poetics)

1. POSITION. The hero is royal or noble with great power, usually a king. He is a good, respected man who acts out of good intentions. He has much to lose.

2. TRAGIC FLAW (hamartia). In spite of his good intentions, the hero makes a tragic error which causes his reversal. The error usually stems from a character flaw, usually pride.

3. REVERSAL (catastrophe). Because of his tragic error, the hero suffers a downfall from his happy, envied position to suffering and misery.

4. RECOGNITION (catharsis). The hero realizes that his own flaw or error has caused his reversal. This recognition always occurs too late for the hero to prevent or escape his reversal.

Three Unities of a Tragedy

(According to Aristotle’s Poetics)

1. TIME. The entire play should take place within one day.

2. PLACE. The entire play should be set in a single place.

3. ACTION. The play should have only a single plot-no sub-plots.

Three Great Greek Tragedians

Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.) Sophocles (496-406 B.C.) Euripides (480-406 B.C.)

Sophocles’s Theban Trilogy

Oedipus the King (written second) Oedipus at Colonus (written last) Antigone (written first)