Tragedy

Question 1

What is the name of the main character in a tragedy?

Answer 1

Tragic hero

Question 2

What word refers to the main character’s fatal flaw?

Answer 2

Hamartia

Question 3

What word describes the fatal flaw of pride / arrogance?

Answer 3

Hubris

Question 4

What is it called when a tragic hero has a moment of realisation?

Answer 4

Anagnorisis

Question 5

What are the criteria (characteristics) of a tragic hero?

Answer 5

Come from a high social status, e.g. being a king or queen.

Question 6

What is it called when the tragic hero suffers a change of fortune?

Answer 6

Peripeteia

Question 7

Tragedies are believed to be driven by fate. What does the word ‘fate’ mean?

Answer 7

An inescapable / unchangeable destiny

Question 8

How does a tragedy tend to end?

Answer 8

With a catastrophe. This tends to be the main character’s downfall.

Question 9

At the end of a tragedy, the audience often have an emotional outpouring of sadness or pity. What is this called?

Answer 9

Catharsis

Question 10

Which character in a tragedy comments upon what the characters are doing and appears to be all-seeing?

Answer 10

The chorus / narrator

Question 11

Tragedies include some funny and less serious moments. What is this called?

Answer 11

Comic relief