Download TRAGEDY Shakespeare`s JULIUS CAESAR

DRAMATIC STRUCTURE: TRAGEDY
Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR
Tragedy: a play, novel, or other narrative, depicting serious and
important events in which the main character comes to an unhappy end.
In a tragedy, the main character is usually dignified and courageous
and often high ranking.
The main character’s downfall may be caused by a tragic flaw (a serious
character weakness) or by forces beyond the hero’s control.
The tragic hero usually wins self-knowledge and wisdom, even though
he or she suffers defeat, possibly even death.
Tragedies often end with death or separation or alienation.
The main character is the protagonist.
The protagonist is usually opposed by the antagonist, who also may
contribute to the downfall of the protagonist.
Along with suffering, the protagonist comes to a recognition, a
discovery, insight, enlightenment, or understanding.
The suffering that the protagonist goes through is the price that must be
paid and the means by which enlightenment comes.
Elizabethan audiences particularly liked a kind of tragedy that dealt
with revenge.
Shakespeare’s revenge plays are almost always set in a larger social
context.
Shakespeare’s revenge plays contain a strong ruling figure who is
brought down by a rebel, or usurping figure, who in turn is defeated by
an avenger.
Tragedy: a play, novel, or other narrative, depicting serious and
important events in which the main character comes to an unhappy end.
- serious and important events:
- main character:
- an unhappy end:
In a tragedy, the main character is usually dignified and courageous
and often high ranking.
- dignified
- courageous
- high ranking
The main character’s downfall may be caused by a tragic flaw (a serious
character weakness) or by forces beyond the hero’s control.
- main character’s downfall:
- tragic flaw:
The tragic hero usually wins self-knowledge and wisdom, even though
he or she suffers defeat, possibly even death.
Tragedies often end with death or separation or alienation.
-separation
-alienation
- death:
The main character is the protagonist.
-protagonist
The protagonist is usually opposed by the antagonist, who also may
contribute to the downfall of the protagonist.
-antagonist:
- contributes to the downfall of the protagonist:
Along with suffering, the protagonist comes to a recognition, a
discovery, insight, enlightenment, or understanding.
The suffering that the protagonist goes through is the price that must be
paid and the means by which enlightenment comes.
Elizabethan audiences particularly liked a kind of tragedy that dealt
with revenge.
- revenge.
Shakespeare’s revenge plays are almost always set in a larger social
context.
- larger social context.
Shakespeare’s revenge plays contain a strong ruling figure who is
brought down by a rebel, or usurping figure, who in turn is defeated by
an avenger.
-strong ruling figure:
-rebel:
-avenger:
Characters in Shakespeare’s tragedy, JULIUS CAESAR:
-ruling figure:
-rebel:
-avenger:
Which character is the tragic hero, or protagonist, in JULIUS CAESAR? Using the tragic
character information, support your answer with examples from the play and the
character’s traits and flaws.
Essay: Using the tragedy notes, identify the tragedy elements in Julius Caesar. support
each item with details from the play, citing lines when needed and identifying specific
acts and scenes.