How to write a tragedy

What is Tragedy?


Tragedy is a genre of literature that deals with suffering and adversity, typically involving a tragic hero who experiences a downfall due to their own flaws or external conflict. Tragedies often explore themes such as the role of fate, the nature of human beings, and the consequences of actions.

In literature, tragedy is often characterized by certain conventions, such as the use of anagnorisis (a moment of realization or enlightenment) and peripeteia (a reversal of fortune). Tragedies also typically have a tragic hero, who is a noble and admirable character but has a tragic flaw that leads to their downfall.

Hero

The hero is a central component of any tragedy, and should be depicted as skilled, respected, and honorable at the beginning of the story. However, it is also important to include a flaw in the hero’s character that readers can relate to and that ultimately leads to their downfall. This flaw should be something that the audience can see in themselves, and it should be presented in such a way that the audience is still rooting for the hero despite this flaw. This is important because the tragic ending will not have the desired impact if the audience does not feel a connection to the hero.


Conflict

The conflict usually involves some kind of struggle between the hero and a force outside him or her.

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the conflict is internal, in the sense that it is something that Romeo and Juliet must struggle with within themselves. They are both victims of events beyond their control and neither of them is responsible for the tragic fate that befalls them. Theirs is an internal conflict.

There is conflict in almost every piece of fiction, drama, or film. Conflict is at the core of nearly all stories, whether those stories are dramas or comedies or thrillers or mysteries. Conflict provides the dramatic tension in a story.

Make tension for readers

In order to increase the tension and stakes in a tragedy, it can be helpful to consider how the events of the story would impact the characters on a deeper level. For example, if a character is afraid that their spouse will be kidnapped and murdered, it can be effective to explore the potential consequences of this event, such as how the character would cope as a widow or widower and whether this has happened to them in the past. Asking these types of questions can help to make the situation feel more urgent and compelling to the reader, rather than just a surface-level problem.

Resolution 

The aftermath of the tragic hero’s fall should illustrate the consequences of their actions and how they have affected the other characters in the story. This can help to further underscore the gravity of the situation and the tragic nature of the events that have occurred.

The resolution of the tragedy should provide some sense of closure, but it should also leave the audience with a feeling of sadness or loss. This can be achieved through various techniques, such as character development or the use of symbolism. The resolution should also reflect the themes and motifs that have been explored throughout the story, and it should provide a sense of resolution or resolution.

Ending

A good story line is like a triangle. You should have an ending in mind as you begin writing. The main idea of your story is the beginning. When the beginning of your story comes to an end, you must know the ending of the story as well. If you don’t know the end, it will not make sense. You must have a good story line that will connect the beginning and ending together. It will be a good story line if you have a clear idea of the beginning and the ending.

You must know the end in mind when you write your book. Make sure that you know what you want to achieve with your book. You should be aware that people can read between the lines of your story.