Shakespeare’s tragediesHeli Hirsik

XIB

List of tragedies• Titus Andronicus

• Romeo and Juliet• Hamlet• Othello• King Lear• Macbeth• Antony and

Cleopatra• Timon of Athens• Coriolanus• Troilus and

Cressida

Shakespearean tragedy :

• A five act play ending in the death of most of the major characters.

• One central figure- tragic protagonist, who has a fatal flaw.

• Insight into hope through dark proceedings.

• Death as the embodiment of defeat.• Love, jealousy, lust, revenge, hatred,

sorrow.

Titus Andronicus • Written in the

1590’s• Shakespeare's

bloodiest work,• A cycle of revenge

between the Roman general Titus and his enemy

Romeo and Juliet• Two young "star-

cross‘ d lovers" whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families.

• Among most popular archetypal stories

HamletPrince of Denmark who exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius for murdering his father- the old King Hamlet

OthelloA Moor of Venice who kills his wife Desdemona after being tricked to suspect her having an affair.

King Lear A king who loses his throne after he fatally misjudges his youngest daughter, Cordelia.

Macbeth• General

Macbeth kills king Duncan of Scotland to seize the throne• Sources:

Holinshed’s Chronicles

Antony and Cleopatra

Mark Antony’s affair with Cleopatra (ruler of the Roman Empire and the queen of Egypt)

Timon of Athens• About the

fortunes of an Athenian named Timon• One of his most

obscure and difficult works• Also a problem

play

Sources• http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/play-

summary/tragedy.htm• http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-shakes

peares-tragedies.htm• http://www.teach12.com/tgc/courses/cours

e_detail.aspx?cid=2752• http://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakes

peare

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