An Introduction to Tragedy

• English
• Higher Education (degree)

Dr Jessica Honey-Allen

[e-mail]

Can you think of a contemporary work (book, tv, or film) which you would describe as ‘tragic’?

Can you think of someone (fictional or real) who you would describe as a ‘tragic hero’?

What does tragedy mean to you?

Sophoclean Tragedy

• Sophocles (c. 497/496 – 406/405 BC), who was greatly celebrated in his own time
  
• First performed 2500 years ago by exclusively male actors
  
• Performed by daylight in Athens
  
• Sophocles composed at least 120 dramas of which only 7 tragedies survive

Sophoclean Tragedy

'Within the stark temporal economy of these tragedies, whose actions commence at dawn and are consummated within a single day, human fortunes are completely overturned (Introduction, ix).'

Aristotle believed that Sophoclean drama (especially Oedipus) brought the genre of tragedy to its consummate achievements.

Oedipus the King

Do you know anything about this text? e.g. Freud

Oedipus the King

For next week I'd like you to think about three central features of this text as you read it:

• The importance of fate and free will (or lack thereof)
• Oedipus as a character - what kind of man is he? Is his fate avoidable?
• What is the role of the Greek chorus?

42:00

What is the difference between 'tragedy' and something 'tragic'?