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Five act structure

Five act structure. Shakespeare follows the Greek format developed by Sophocles . Tragic character suffers a reversal of fortune – a change for the worse Reversal of fortune brought on by tragic flaw. Tragic flaw : moral weakness or human error that causes the protagonist’s downfall.

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Five act structure

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  1. Five act structure

  2. Shakespeare follows the Greek format developed by Sophocles. • Tragic character suffers a reversal of fortune – a change for the worse • Reversal of fortune brought on by tragic flaw. • Tragic flaw: moral weakness or human error that causes the protagonist’s downfall Five Acts

  3. Tragedy: A play in which the main character, called the tragic hero, suffers a downfall. This may result from outside forces or a tragic flaw within the character. Comedy: A type of play that deals with light and amusing subjects or with serious subjects in a light or satirical manner. Types of Plays

  4. Act 1: Audience is introduced to the setting, characters, and hint of a conflict. Exposition

  5. Act II: Action becomes more complicated. Interests clash, events accelerate, tensions mount, and momentum builds. Rising Action

  6. ACT III: The conflict reaches its high point, the hero stands at the crossroads, leading to victory or defeat, crashing or soaring. Climax of the Action

  7. ACT IV: Reversals: The consequences of Act III play out, momentum slows, and tension is heightened by false hopes/fears. There is still hope for the hero. Falling Action

  8. Act V: The conflict is resolved, whether through a catastrophe, the downfall of the hero, or through his victory and transformation. Catastrophe/Resolution

  9. Aside: A comment made by a character that is heard by the audience or another character, but is not heard by the other characters on stage. (“to the side”) Soliloquy: Long speech delivered by a character who is alone onstage. Reveals the private thoughts and emotions of the character. Comic Relief: A short, funny episode that interrupts an otherwise serious or tragic work of drama. Additional Vocabulary

  10. Monologue: Long speech by a character that sets the scene and gives information to other actors who are present on stage. Elizabethan Stage: Three stories high, open area in the center with a stage that juts out from the center. No props, scenery or costumes. All male actors. More Vocabulary

  11. Concealment: a literary device that means to hold back information in order to keep the audience in suspense. Stage Directions: written instructions that explain how actors should look, speak, move, and behave. More Vocabulary

  12. The themes of fate, destiny, the supernaturalare common throughout tragic plays. • These plays usually show the weaknessof human beings. • The main character is always faced with difficult decisions. • Usually the downfallof the tragic hero is brought about by his/her own doings or character flaws. Some examples of character flaws are: • anger • jealousy • greed • power/control Themes

  13. My life is perfect with a lot to lose. I have power, love, and a good reputation! • BUT I do have a tragic flaw that I cannot control. • People, gods, spirits, and ghosts warn me, but I don't listen and continue to ignore them! Until….. TRAGEDY PLOT LINE

  14. Hamartia is the actionthat brings about the downfall of the tragic hero. HAMARTIA

  15. Hubris is EXTREMEarrogance and pride which will eventually lead to trouble for the tragic hero. HUBRIS

  16. A catastrophe is an unstoppable series of destructive events. CATASTROPHE

  17. After realizing their faults, the tragic hero may have an EPIPHANY. So, what’s an epiphany? An epiphanyis a sudden realization or understanding about a truth or about yourself that completely changes your worldview. EPIPHANY

  18. The epiphany always comes too late. The tragic hero loses almost everything that was once important to him such as: Money, power, respect, and loved ones.. Sometimes even his own life. The POINT about a tragedy is...

  19. He was born in England • The death of his son Hamnet inspired him to write Hamlet • He wrote tragedy, comedy and history plays • He followed the five act play format of Greek playwright Sophocles • He retired after the Globe Theater burned down • In his will, he left his wife, Anne Hathaway, their “second best bed” • It is believed he died on his birthday 4/23/1616 Facts about Shakespeare

  20. The Globe Theater

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