It’s pointless to lean further in a language if one doesn’t know the literature insights. Let’s learn some important words in this form of art.
- What is a tragedy?
- An unfortunate event with a shocking or an unhappy end.
- A play dealing with tragic events and having unhappy ending, specially concerning the downfall of the main character.
- Tragedies have sombre/dark/dull/sad theme.
- Always based on human sufferings.
- Meaning of Hamartia:
- A tragic flaw of the protagonist.
- Example – ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Hamlet’, ‘Julius Caesar’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘King Lear’.
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- What is comedy?
- A light-hearted, happy ending, sarcasm.
- A dramatic work that is light and humorous in tone.
- Chief notion is to amuse.
- Intended to make the audience laugh.
- It mostly has a cheerful ending.
- Example – ‘Comedy of Errors’, ‘As You Like It’, ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’, ‘The Merchant of Venice’, ‘Arms and The Man’.
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- What is Tragic-Comedy?
- Tragic comedy includes elements of both comedy and tragedy.
- It is a serious play that ends happily or at a happy note and vice versa.
- Example – ‘The Merchant of Venice’, ‘Waiting for Godot’ by Samuel, ‘The Winter’s Tale’.
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- What is Poetic Drama or Verse Drama?
- Any drama written as a poem to be spoken mainly includes tragedies and serious play.
- Example – ‘Doctor Faustus’.
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- What is Closet Drama?
- A play meant to be recited privately or read privately rather than performed or acted.
- Example – ‘Prometheus Unbound’.