ANALYSIS OF ANALYSIS OF SHAKESPEAREAN SHAKESPEAREAN

TRAGEDYTRAGEDYBYBY

H. M. STEEDH. M. STEED

NAMES OF ACTSNAMES OF ACTS

ACT IACT I Act I in SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY Act I in SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY

is called the EXPOSITION.is called the EXPOSITION.

It sets forth the following:It sets forth the following:

Setting: Setting: TimeTime PlacePlace

ACT I (CONTINUED)ACT I (CONTINUED) Protagonist (The character around whom Protagonist (The character around whom

the plot is based)the plot is based) Antagonists (Those characters who Antagonists (Those characters who

“antagonize” the Protagonist)“antagonize” the Protagonist) Minor Characters (The remainder of the Minor Characters (The remainder of the

characters)characters) Tone (Author’s attitude toward his/her Tone (Author’s attitude toward his/her

subject)subject) Mood (Reader’s response to the author’s Mood (Reader’s response to the author’s

tone)tone)

ACT IIACT II Act II in Shakespearean Tragedy Act II in Shakespearean Tragedy

is called the COMPLICATION.is called the COMPLICATION.

It contains the “Complicating It contains the “Complicating Incident”, which initiates the Incident”, which initiates the conflict for the Protagonist.conflict for the Protagonist.

ACT IIIACT III Act III in Shakespearean Tragedy Act III in Shakespearean Tragedy

is called the REVERSAL.is called the REVERSAL. It contains the TECHNICAL It contains the TECHNICAL

CLIMAX, which determines the CLIMAX, which determines the fate of the Protagonist.fate of the Protagonist.

ACT IVACT IV Act IV of Shakespearean Tragedy is Act IV of Shakespearean Tragedy is

called the CATASTROPHE, where, called the CATASTROPHE, where, as the name implies, everything as the name implies, everything “falls apart” for the Protagonist.“falls apart” for the Protagonist.

(It is the same section of the plot (It is the same section of the plot as the DENOUEMENT or FALLING as the DENOUEMENT or FALLING ACTION, which are the terms used ACTION, which are the terms used in analyzing other genres of fiction, in analyzing other genres of fiction, such as short stories and novels.)such as short stories and novels.)

ACT VACT V Act V in Shakespearean Tragedy Act V in Shakespearean Tragedy

is called the RESOLUTION or is called the RESOLUTION or CONCLUSION, where “diminished CONCLUSION, where “diminished order” is restored.order” is restored.

It also includes the DRAMATIC It also includes the DRAMATIC CLIMAX of the play, which, CLIMAX of the play, which, obviously, is the highest point of obviously, is the highest point of drama for the Protagonist.drama for the Protagonist.

UNIVERSAL UNIVERSAL CONFLICTSCONFLICTS

MAN VERSUS MANMAN VERSUS MAN MAN VERSUS NATUREMAN VERSUS NATURE MAN VERSUS SELFMAN VERSUS SELF MAN VERSUS SUPERNATURALMAN VERSUS SUPERNATURAL

THEMESTHEMES The themes of Shakespearean The themes of Shakespearean

Tragedy, as in other genres of Tragedy, as in other genres of literature, are the “messages” literature, are the “messages” the author is attempting to the author is attempting to convey to the reader or to the convey to the reader or to the audience.audience.

SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM Symbols in Shakespearean Symbols in Shakespearean

Tragedy, just as in other genres Tragedy, just as in other genres of literature, include “concrete” of literature, include “concrete” objects (i.e., objects which can objects (i.e., objects which can be seen or visualized) which be seen or visualized) which “symbolize” an abstract idea or “symbolize” an abstract idea or emotion.emotion.

IMAGERYIMAGERY Imagery appeals to one of the Imagery appeals to one of the

“senses,” such as visual, auditory, “senses,” such as visual, auditory, taste, touch, smell, and emotional. taste, touch, smell, and emotional.

In Shakespearean Tragedy, just as In Shakespearean Tragedy, just as in other genres of literature, it is in other genres of literature, it is used by the author to provoke used by the author to provoke “higher level thinking” on the part “higher level thinking” on the part of the reader or audience.of the reader or audience.