African Literature – “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
Tragedy

What is Tragedy?

Catastrophe is part of tragedy, but a tragedy does not focus solely on the calamity itself.
Catastrophe—great, often sudden event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, severe affliction

Classical Tragedy

Elements first established by Aristotle:
“Imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; the language is embellished with each kind of artistic ornament; has catharsis through pity and fear to enable the purging of these emotions (catharsis)”
Elements of Classical Tragedy

Imitation
Created work of art by man
Consciously aware that the events, even if based on reality, are expressed artistically, which means they have certain artistic expectations.
Elements of Classical Tragedy

Action
sequence of events joined to create a whole
The events/action are developed to bring about a desired result
Elements of Classical Tragedy

Serious
The work of art deals with profound and universal problems of man
Some examples include purpose and destiny, good and evil, other forces greater than man
Elements of Classical Tragedy

Magnitude
Greatness of rank or position
reached by heroic stature of characters;
use of poetry (“elevated” use of language) to achieve meaning
Character
Central character is usually high born, noble
The “importance” of the character reflects how “serious” the work of art is
Character in Classical Tragedy

An active protagonist is in conflict with opposing forces.
The character moves from fortune to misfortune
Conflict is internal, comes from spiritual realm, tests character’s integrity
Catharsis

The purging of emotions through pity and fear
Pity—sharing in grief, compassion
Fear—anxious concern, awe, reverence (think God)
We purge to reach tranquility
Tragic Hero

The central character (protagonist) in a tragedy.
The tragic hero represents universal human qualities and is essentially good, but flawed.
Flaw reflects errors in judgment tends to reflect errors in judgment.
Tragic Hero Characteristics

Is noble or high born
Has characteristic flaw or error of judgment
Suffers reversal of fortune because of this flaw
Discovers reversal was brought about by his/her own actions
Tragic Hero

Hero elicits pity because his fate seems undeserved
Tragedy depicts the downfall of a noble hero or heroine, usually through some combination of hubris, fate, and the will of the gods.
Tragic Hero

anagnorisis–“knowing again” or “knowing back” or “knowing throughout”
the tragic hero may achieve some revelation or recognition about human fate, destiny, and the will of the gods.
(moves from ignorance to awareness of bond of love or hate)