9.1.1

Introduction

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Introducing Tragedy

The drama texts in AQA’s Aspects of Tragedy component can be said to fall into two main categories; classical tragedy and modern tragedy.

Classical tragedy

Classical tragedy

  • Originally written by Ancient Greek dramatists such as Sophocles and later revived and reinvented by playwrights such as Shakespeare.
  • Classical tragedy tends to focus on the suffering and downfall of powerful figures such as Kings.
Modern tragedy

Modern tragedy

  • Modern tragedy (or domestic tragedy), pioneered by late 19th Century dramatists such as Henrik Ibsen, inspiring American dramatists of the mid-20th Century such as Miller, Tennessee Williams and Edward Albee.
Comparison

Comparison

  • Modern tragedies are ‘smaller scale’ when compared to Classical tragedy.
  • The protagonists of modern tragedy are often lowly figures and the action tends to be confined to domestic settings such as the family home, rather than affecting an entire nation or state.
  • However, modern tragedy still offers powerful storylines revolving around themes such as pain, failure and death.

Introducing Key Tragic Concepts

Tragedy is an ancient genre, the oldest surviving discussion of the genre being by Aristotle.

History of tragedy

History of tragedy

  • Tragedy is an ancient genre, originating over two and a half thousand years ago in 5th Century BCE Athens and its surrounding areas.
Aristotle

Aristotle

  • The philosopher, Aristotle (384 BCE-322 BCE), wrote the oldest surviving discussion of the genre in his Poetics.
  • Aristotle examined how the tragedies of his time shared particular features and tried to assess its appeal to audiences.
Tragic concepts

Tragic concepts

  • Aristotle's ideas are still widely used today and we will look more closely at the following:
    • The tragic hero (protagonist).
    • The hero’s downfall, caused by a tragic flaw (hamartia or hubris).
    • A moment of discovery or recognition (anagnorisis).
    • Emotional release at the end of the play (catharsis).
Other concepts

Other concepts

  • Other useful concepts to explore include:
    • Chaos and Disorder.
    • Revenge.
    • Inevitability.
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1

Introduction

1.1

Introductions

1.1.1Author1.1.2Historical Context1.1.3Setting1.1.4Social Issues
2

Act One

2.1

Key Events

2.1.1Staging2.1.2Key Events 1&22.1.3Key Events 3&42.1.4Key Events 5&62.1.5Key Events 7&82.1.6Key Events 9&102.1.7Key Events 11&12
2.2

Key Themes & Literary Techniques

2.2.1Foreshadowing, Flashbacks, Settings2.2.2Family, Reality, Fantasy
3

Act Two

3.1

Key Events

3.1.1Key Events 1&23.1.2Key Events 3&43.1.3Key Events 5&63.1.4Key Events 7&83.1.5Key Events 9&10
3.2

Key Themes & Links

3.2.1Pride3.2.2Metaphor3.2.3Self-Realisation
4

Extended Passage Analysis

4.1

Act One

4.1.1Staging4.1.2The Woman
4.2

Act Two

4.2.1In Howard’s Office4.2.2The Final Confrontation4.2.3The Requiem
5

Character Profiles

5.1

Willy & Linda Loman

5.1.1Willy Loman5.1.2Linda Loman
5.2

Biff & Happy Loman

5.2.1Biff Loman5.2.2Biff's Relationship with Willy5.2.3Happy Loman
5.3

Other Characters

5.3.1Uncle Ben5.3.2Charley5.3.3Bernard
6

Key Themes

6.1

Concepts

6.1.1The American Dream6.1.2Fathers & Sons6.1.3Nature & the City6.1.4Success6.1.5Men & Women
7

Writing Techniques

7.1

Structure

7.1.1Act One7.1.2Act Two
7.2

Realism

7.2.1Introduction7.2.2Staging7.2.3Language
7.3

Expressionism

7.3.1Introduction7.3.2Staging7.3.3Music
7.4

Symbolism

7.4.1The Garden / Seeds7.4.2Diamonds7.4.3Alaska & Africa
7.5

Motifs

7.5.1Introduction7.5.2Cars7.5.3Silk Stockings7.5.4Money7.5.5Mythological Figures
8

Historical Context

8.1

Historical Context

8.1.1Miller’s Family & The Great Depression8.1.2America’s Recovery
9

Literary Context

9.1

Tragedy

9.1.1Introduction
9.2

Applying Tragic Concepts

9.2.1The Tragic Hero9.2.2The Tragic Flaw9.2.3Recognition9.2.4Emotional Release9.2.5Chaos & Disorder9.2.6Revenge9.2.7Inevitability
10

Critical Debates

10.1

Introduction

10.1.1Introduction
10.2

The Marxist Reading

10.2.1Marxist Analysis10.2.2The Marxist Reading
10.3

The Feminist Reading

10.3.1Feminist Analysis10.3.2The Feminist Reading
10.4

The Eco-Critical Reading

10.4.1Eco-Critical Analysis10.4.2The Eco-Critical Reading10.4.3Post-pastoral
10.5

Other Debates

10.5.1The Play as Tragedy10.5.2The Critics
11

Recap: Main Quotes

11.1

Characters Quotes

11.1.1Willy Loman11.1.2Linda Loman11.1.3Biff Loman11.1.4Happy Loman11.1.5Uncle Ben11.1.6Charley11.1.7Bernard
11.2

Quotes by Act

11.2.1Act One: Key Events 1-3 Quotes11.2.2Act One: Key Events 4-6 Quotes11.2.3Act One: Key Events 7-9 Quotes11.2.4Act One: Key Events 10-12 Quotes11.2.5Act One: Stage Direction Quotes11.2.6Act One: The Woman Quotes11.2.7Act Two: Key Events 1-2 Quotes11.2.8Act Two: Key Events 3-4 Quotes11.2.9Act Two: Key Events 5-6 Quotes11.2.10Act Two: Key Events 7-8 Quotes11.2.11Act Two: Key Events 9-10 Quotes11.2.12Act Two: Howard's Office Quotes11.2.13Act Two: The Requiem Quotes

Practice questions on Introduction

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Features of Classical tragedy:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    How do modern tragedies differ from Classical tragedies?True / false
  3. 3
    Features of modern tragedies:Fill in the list
  4. 4
    Which of these is NOT an American dramatist of the mid-20th Century inspired by modern tragedy?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What do we know about the origins of tragedy as a genre?True / false
Answer all questions on Introduction

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America’s Recovery

The Tragic Hero