25 Compelling Types of Tragedy
Here are twenty-five types of tragedy that can be explored in the senior drama or theatre classroom. From ancient Greece to today, tragedy has permeated the theatrical landscape for centuries. For each type of tragedy, below, its origins are discussed, well-known playwrights examined, themes explored, play structure analysed, and examples offered.
Types of Tragedy
Greek Tragedy
Greek tragedy represents one of the earliest forms of dramatic expression in ancient Greece during the 5th century BCE. Rooted in Athens, these plays were performed at the annual Dionysian festivals. They often involved mythical or historical subjects, exploring moral and philosophical themes.
The development of Greek tragedy can be traced through three main playwrights: Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. Each added unique elements, contributing to the genre’s complexity. Aeschylus, known as the “father of tragedy,” introduced the second actor and the chorus. Sophocles added the third actor, while Euripides challenged traditional norms by portraying more emotional, human-like characters.
Plays
“Agamemnon” by Aeschylus and “Medea” by Euripides.
Aeschylean Tragedy
Aeschylean Tragedy marked a significant departure from earlier dramatic forms and established a framework for the tragic theatre of ancient Greece.
Aeschylus was a master of innovation, introducing the second actor to the stage, and expanding the possibilities for dialogue and conflict. A deep moral and philosophical gravity characterised his works, often centred on themes of justice, fate, and divine intervention.
Aeschylus’s plays often occur against a backdrop of mythological or historical events, imbued with a sense of cosmic order and moral law. The characters in his tragedies are caught in inexorable circumstances, and their struggles often illuminate universal questions about humanity’s place in the cosmos and the nature of right and wrong. The conflicts in his works are not just personal but often reflect broader societal and cosmic tensions, leading to complex and multifaceted narratives.
The theatrical innovations in Aeschylean Tragedy are equally remarkable. Aeschylus expanded the use of the chorus, allowing it to interact with characters, thus adding depth to the plot and connecting the human and divine realms. His imagery, metaphor, and poetic language created a rich texture and elevated the theatrical experience. He also made significant use of visual elements, including masks and costumes, enhancing the aesthetic impact of his tragedies.
Focus
Moral and ethical conflicts, often with a chorus representing society.
Plays
“The Oresteia” and “Prometheus Bound”.
Sophoclean Tragedy
Sophoclean Tragedy builds on the foundations laid by Aeschylus, incorporating further innovations and subtleties in character development and thematic complexity. Sophocles is credited with introducing the third actor to the stage, thus broadening the scope for dialogue and dramatic conflict. His characters are often portrayed as noble figures brought down by a single tragic flaw or ‘hamartia.’ These characters confront inevitable fate and moral questions, with the plays often leading to a tragic and cathartic conclusion.
Sophocles’ approach to tragedy concerns the individual’s internal conflict and the tension between human will and cosmic order. Unlike Aeschylean Tragedy, where characters are caught in larger cosmic struggles, Sophoclean characters grapple with their personal desires, ethics, and responsibilities. These internal struggles become universal human nature, ethics, and identity explorations.
Sophocles also expanded the role of the chorus, though in a different direction from Aeschylus. Rather than serving as a bridge between the human and divine, the chorus in Sophoclean Tragedy often represents the collective voice of society or the city-state, reflecting communal values and norms. The dialogue, rich in poetic and philosophical insight, further enhances the thematic depth of the plays.
Focus
Known for depicting protagonists’ internal conflicts and fatal flaws.
Plays
“Oedipus Rex” and “Antigone”.
Euripidean Tragedy
Euripidean Tragedy is characterised by its emphasis on realistic characters, psychological complexity, and often controversial exploration of social and ethical issues. Unlike Aeschylus and Sophocles, whose characters were noble and whose themes were often grand and cosmic, Euripides portrayed more human-like characters, loaded with flaws, doubts, and emotions. This resulted in a more accessible and immediate form of tragedy, where gods and heroes were portrayed with human frailties.
Euripides’ tragedies often question traditional values, beliefs, and social norms. They explore themes such as the role of women in society, the nature of the divine, and the ethics of war. The characters in his plays are multifaceted, and their motivations and actions are explored with psychological depth, often leading to unexpected and ambiguous conclusions.
The structure of Euripidean plays is often more fluid and less formalistic, with a willingness to blend tragic, comic, and even melodramatic elements. Deus ex machina, a plot device where a god or supernatural element resolves the plot, is a notable feature in some of his plays, leading to criticism from contemporaries like Aristotle.
The chorus in Euripidean Tragedy was also transformed. Rather than serving as a moral compass or a bridge between characters and the audience, the chorus often became more reflective and interpretative, mirroring the complexity and ambiguity of the drama’s themes.
Focus
More emotional, portraying human-like characters.
Plays
Examples: “Medea” and “The Bacchae”.
Roman Tragedy
Roman Tragedy emerged during the Roman Republic and continued through the Empire, roughly from the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE. Unlike Greek tragedies, which often dealt with mythological subjects and the whims of the gods, Roman tragedies were more concerned with moral issues, historical events, and political themes.
The genre is marked by adapting and transforming Greek literary models, infusing them with Roman values, sensibilities, and social commentaries. While the structure of the plays often followed Greek conventions, the content and style were uniquely Roman.
Roman Tragedy explored themes such as power, ambition, virtue, loyalty, and the complex relationship between the individual and the state. The plays often depicted historical figures and events, using them as vehicles to explore ethical dilemmas and social issues.
Senecan Tragedy
Senecan Tragedy is a sub-genre of tragedy that emerged in Ancient Rome, heavily influenced by the works of Seneca the Younger, a stoic philosopher and statesman.
Distinct from Greek Tragedy, Senecan Tragedy is characterised by its focus on intense emotions, moral dilemmas, revenge, and often the inclusion of supernatural elements. It played a significant role in shaping Renaissance tragedy and continues to resonate in contemporary dramaturgy.
These tragedies typically centre around larger-than-life characters, often drawn from myth or history, whose flaws and ambitions lead to catastrophic consequences. The plays often dwell on the tension between desire and duty, reason and emotion, or fate and free will. Senecan Tragedy is known for its five-act structure, adherence to the unities of time, place, and action,
Focus
Intense emotions, moral dilemmas, and supernatural elements.
Structure
Five acts, adhering to the three unities of time, place and action.
Plays
“Phaedra” and “Thyestes” by Seneca.
Elizabethan Tragedy
Elizabethan Tragedy refers to the form of tragedy that flourished during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in England, roughly during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. This period witnessed the emergence of some of the most renowned playwrights in English literature, including William Shakespeare, and was instrumental in shaping modern drama.
Elizabethan Tragedy is characterised by its complex characters, intricate plots, and the exploration of universal human themes such as love, ambition, power, and betrayal. Unlike Greek tragedies, where fate and the divine played central roles, Elizabethan Tragedy often emphasised human agency, character flaws, and moral choices.
The Elizabethan stage was rich with innovation, employing various dramatic devices such as soliloquy, asides, and dramatic irony. The theatre became a vital part of cultural life, with plays performed in public playhouses that attracted a wide spectrum of society. The language used in these tragedies was highly poetic and expressive, contributing to the plays’ emotional intensity and thematic depth.
Elizabethan Tragedy is marked by its exploration of the human psyche and its characters’ moral and ethical dilemmas. The tragic hero is often a noble figure with a fatal flaw or ‘hamartia’ that leads to his downfall. The interplay between ambition, morality, and human frailty is central to many tragedies.
Focus
The complexity of human nature and destiny.
Plays
“Hamlet” and Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare.
Jacobean Tragedy
Jacobean Tragedy refers to the form of tragedy that emerged during the reign of King James I in England, following the Elizabethan era. Spanning the early 17th century, this period is known for its darker themes, psychological complexity, and focus on the macabre.
It is often characterised by its bleak and pessimistic outlook, a shift from the heroic and noble figures of Elizabethan Tragedy. While the Elizabethan era was marked by optimism and human potential, Jacobean Tragedy reflected a more cynical and disillusioned view of human nature and society. Themes such as corruption, decay, madness, and revenge were prominent, reflecting the political and social turmoil of the time.
The plays of this era were known for their intense emotional expression, complex characters, and intricate plotting. The language was rich and poetic, but also more concentrated and dense, reflecting the complexity and ambiguity of the themes explored. Plays often depict a world with ambiguous moral values, with characters driven by darker motivations.
Focus
Darker themes, often involve deceit and betrayal.
Plays
“The Duchess of Malfi” by John Webster and “King Lear” by William Shakespeare.
Revenge Tragedy
Revenge Tragedy emerged in the late 16th century and flourished during the early 17th century. This genre is defined by a central theme of revenge, usually carried out by a main character who has been wronged or is seeking justice for a deceased relative. The plot typically revolves around complex schemes, leading to an often bloody and tragic conclusion.
The tone of revenge tragedies is dark and foreboding, emphasising the moral ambiguity of revenge and the complex emotions that drive the avenger. Themes such as madness, betrayal, moral corruption, and the supernatural often pervade these plays.
Revenge tragedies are marked by their intense emotional drama and intricate plotting. The avenger’s quest is usually complicated by ethical dilemmas, personal conflicts, and societal constraints. The act of revenge is often portrayed as a double-edged sword, leading to personal destruction and moral decay.
A common motif in revenge tragedies is the appearance of a ghost or supernatural being, urging the protagonist to seek vengeance. The line between sanity and madness is frequently blurred, reflecting the psychological turmoil of the avenger.
Focus
Involves plots of revenge, often with violent ends.
Plays
“The Spanish Tragedy” by Thomas Kyd and “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare.
Shakespearean Tragedy
Shakespearean Tragedy refers to the genre of tragedy written by English playwright William Shakespeare.
Specifically, Shakespearean Tragedy is characterised by its focus on noble protagonists who possess a fatal flaw that leads to their downfall. The plays often explore universal human themes such as ambition, love, jealousy, and betrayal, reflecting the complexities of the human condition.
Unlike classical Greek tragedies, where fate often dictates the characters’ destinies, Shakespearean Tragedy emphasises the consequences of personal choices. The tragic hero’s downfall is often self-inflicted, stemming from internal flaws or misguided decisions.
Shakespeare’s tragedies are renowned for their poetic language, dramatic intensity, and psychological insight. They combine elements of history, romance, and politics.
The structure of Shakespearean Tragedy typically follows a five-act framework, building towards a climactic conclusion where the tragic hero meets his fate. Soliloquies and asides allow for deep psychological exploration, providing insight into the characters’ thoughts and emotions.
These tragedies follow a five-act structure, leading to the inevitable downfall of the protagonist. The interplay between character, fate, and choice, coupled with Shakespeare’s poetic mastery, creates works of timeless resonance. The depth of human insight, emotional intensity, and dramatic innovation continue to inspire adaptations and interpretations across cultures and generations.
Focus
Character flaws, the downfall of nobility.
Structure
Five acts, tragic hero with a fatal flaw.
Plays
“Macbeth” and “Othello”.
Historical Tragedy
Historical Tragedy is a genre that takes historical events, figures, or periods as its subject matter. It is designed to dramatise real historical conflicts and their moral, political, and personal implications.
Emerging during the Renaissance period, Historical Tragedy often seeks to understand the past while commenting on the issues and concerns of the time it was written.
The focus of Historical Tragedy lies in its exploration of real historical events and characters, weaving them into a dramatic narrative that often explores power, ambition, leadership, morality, and the human condition, portraying great historical figures with complex and multifaceted personalities, revealing their strengths, flaws, and inner conflicts.
Focus
Real historical events and characters.
Plays
“Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare and “Mary Stuart” by Frederich Schiller”.
Heroic Tragedy
Heroic Tragedy is a dramatic genre focusing on the tragic flaws, moral dilemmas, and grand actions of heroes or heroic figures. Emerging during the Renaissance and flourishing in the 17th century, Heroic Tragedy reflects themes of heroism, honour, virtue, fate, and the tragic consequences of human imperfection.
Heroic Tragedy explores the life and destiny of larger-than-life characters, often drawn from ancient history, mythology, or legendary sources. These characters are portrayed as noble, courageous, and virtuous but are also depicted with inherent tragic flaws or faults that lead to their downfall.
Focus
Larger-than-life characters with tragic flaws.
Plays
“All for Love” by John Dryden and “Venmice Preserved” by Thomas Otway.
Domestic Tragedy
Domestic Tragedy centres on ordinary people, often portraying realistic events within a family or household. The protagonists are not kings or heroes but common individuals facing realistic and relatable conflicts. This genre often explores marriage, family, morality, and social responsibility themes.
Unlike classical tragedies with lofty themes and noble characters, Domestic Tragedies depict everyday people’s sufferings, moral dilemmas, and downfall. The plays evoke sympathy, reflection, and moral lessons by depicting common life.
The structure of Domestic Tragedy is typically linear and realistic, prioritising character development, emotional depth, and moral complexity. The characters are fleshed out with psychological insight, and their struggles reflect broader social and ethical concerns.
Focus
Everyday people, domestic affairs.
Structure
Moral lessons, simple language.
Plays
“The London Merchant” by Lillo and “Venice Preserved” by Thomas Otway.
Tragicomedy
Tragicomedy is a genre that combines tragedy and comedy elements. Originating in the Renaissance period, Tragicomedy aims to reflect the complexity and ambiguity of human experience by portraying both the tragic and comic aspects of life. The genre often features characters caught in paradoxical situations, simultaneously facing tragic and absurd dilemmas.
Tragicomedy often explores identity, love, moral ambiguity, social conflict, and existential uncertainty. By blending tragic and comic elements, the genre reflects the multifaceted nature of human emotions, where joy and sorrow, laughter and tears coexist.
Focus
Blending laughter with sombre themes.
Structure
Fluctuating tone, redemption or reconciliation.
Plays
“The Winter’s Tale” by William Shakespeare and “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett.
Romantic Tragedy
Romantic Tragedy is a genre that blends elements of both romance and tragedy, depicting intense emotional experiences, passionate love, and the often tragic consequences that arise from such relationships.
Prominently in the early modern period, Romantic Tragedy reflects themes of love, fate, passion, sacrifice, and the conflict between individual desires and societal constraints. The tragic element often arises from external forces such as family feuds, social class, political intrigue, or fate, which conspire to doom the love affair.
The characters in Romantic Tragedy are often driven by intense emotions and idealised love, leading them into conflicts with societal norms, family obligations, or moral dilemmas. The tension between personal desires and external constraints provides a rich dramatic context for exploring human vulnerability, longing, and loss.
The structure of Romantic Tragedy can include elements of melodrama, with highly charged emotional scenes, dramatic confrontations, and poetic language. The narrative may unfold with a sense of inevitability, leading to a tragic climax, often marked by death or significant loss.
Focus
Elements of passionate love and tragic consequences.
Structure
Melodrama, emotional scenes, heightened language.
Plays
“Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare.
Modern tragedy
Modern Tragedy emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting the time’s social, cultural, and philosophical changes. This form of tragedy departs from classical conventions, focusing on the individual’s existential struggles, moral ambiguity, and psychological complexities within modern society.
The genre often interrogates the loss of traditional values, the fragmentation of identity, and the disillusionment with grand narratives. It resonates with the contemporary experience of alienation, anxiety, and existential crisis.
The structure of Modern Tragedy often defies traditional conventions, experimenting with nonlinear narratives, fragmented forms, and psychological realism. The protagonists are typically flawed, conflicted, and isolated, struggling with moral dilemmas and personal failures.
Focus
Individual struggles, psychological complexities.
Plays
“Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare.”Long Day’s Journey into Night” by Eugene O’Neill and “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller.
Psychological tragedy
Psychological Tragedy is a theatrical genre that probes deeply into the mental and emotional states of characters, often focusing on the psychological complexities, conflicts, and moral dilemmas that drive the tragic plot.
The genre seeks to unravel the complexities of human nature, delving into areas such as guilt, paranoia, desire, madness, and self-discovery.
The characters in a Psychological Tragedy are often deeply flawed and troubled, battling internal demons or ethical dilemmas. Their psychological struggles are at the forefront of the narrative, and the plot evolves through their internal journey, transformations, and ultimate downfall.
Focus
Complexities of the human condition, deeply flawed characters.
Plays
“Hedda Gabler” by Henrik Ibsen and “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams.
Political Tragedy
Political Tragedy is a distinct genre addressing governance, power dynamics, ethical leadership, political conflict, and the intricate relationship between the personal and political spheres. Corruption, betrayal, idealism, and the burden of leadership are central to this genre.
Political Tragedy offers an intricate portrayal of political characters, their motivations, struggles, and the deep consequences of their choices.
Its style is often characterised by realism, rhetoric, and dramatic intensity. The language may be grand and eloquent or terse and direct, reflecting the nuances of political discourse, persuasion, and intrigue.
Focus
Governance, power, leadership.
Structure
A mixture of realism and dramatic intensity.
Plays
“The Resistible Rise of Arturo UI” by Bertolt Brecht and “Coriolanus” by William Shakespeare.
Existential tragedy
Existential Tragedy delves into questions of existence, meaning, freedom, and the human condition. It often portrays characters who confront a world that seems indifferent, chaotic, or absurd (out of harmony), where traditional values and beliefs have collapsed.
Themes such as existential despair, the search for authenticity, the burden of freedom, and the confrontation with absurdity are central to Existential Tragedy. Unlike classical tragedy, where fate often governs the characters’ destinies, existential tragedy emphasises human freedom, choice, and responsibility, even in the face of apparent meaninglessness.
The structure of Existential Tragedy often breaks from traditional forms, reflecting the fragmented and uncertain nature of existential experience. Plots may be nonlinear, characters might be alienated or isolated, and resolutions can be ambiguous or unsettling.
Focus
Existential themes and the human condition.
Plays
“No Exit” by Jean-Paul Sartre and “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett.
Post-colonial tragedy
Emerging in the latter half of the 20th century, Post-Colonial Tragedy reflects a critical engagement with the political, cultural, and psychological aftermath of colonial rule.
Post-Colonial Tragedy explores themes such as cultural dislocation, hybridity, resistance, and identity reconstruction in the aftermath of colonialism. It often explores the struggles of individuals and communities caught between different cultural worlds, traditions, and histories.
Themes of displacement, marginalization, cultural clash, and resistance are central to Post-Colonial Tragedy. It often seeks to give voice to the experiences and perspectives of those marginalised by colonialism, offering a nuanced and complex exploration of identity, power, and cultural negotiation.
Focus
Existential themes and the human condition.
Plays
“Death and the King’s Horseman” by Wole Soyinka and “The Fire and the Rain” by Girish Karnad
Social tragedy
Social Tragedy explores the complexities and contradictions of social life, often exposing systemic flaws, moral ambiguities, and societal injustices. It aims to provoke thought and foster critical engagement with social realities, and it often centres on characters who are marginalized, oppressed, or caught in social conflicts.
Class conflict, racial injustice, gender inequality, and societal disillusionment are central to Social Tragedy. It critiques the status quo and challenges conventional wisdom, reflecting a commitment to social justice, empathy, and understanding.
Focus
Reflects social problems and often questions the American Dream.
Plays
“Death of a Salesman” and “A View from the Bridge” by Arthur Miller.
Eco-tragedy
Eco-Tragedy involves the complex interplay between human beings and the environment, often highlighting the destructive consequences of human greed, ignorance, or negligence.
Themes such as ecological imbalance, loss of biodiversity, environmental ethics, and the value of nature are central to this genre. Eco-Tragedy often portrays characters confronting ecological dilemmas, ethical challenges, or existential questions about nature and existence.
The structure of Eco-Tragedy may vary, reflecting different ecological contexts and perspectives. It can include realistic portrayals of environmental issues or more symbolic and allegorical representations. Some Eco-Tragedies might incorporate myth, ritual, or indigenous worldview elements to convey a deeper connection with the natural world.
Focus
Addresses environmental devastation.
Plays
“The Overstory” by Richard Powers and “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson.
Postmodern tragedy
Emerging in the latter half of the 20th century, Postmodern Tragedy is intrinsically linked to the broader movement of postmodernism, which questions grand narratives, objective truths, and fixed meanings. Postmodern Tragedy embraces complexity, and contradiction, often subverting expectations and transcending traditional boundaries.
In contrast to Modern Tragedy, which often maintains a serious engagement with existential themes and moral dilemmas, Postmodern Tragedy may adopt a more ironic, playful, or self-referential approach. It may blend genres, mix high and low culture, and challenge conventional notions of representation, authenticity, and coherence.
Postmodern Tragedy often explores themes such as fragmentation, hyperreality, and the fluidity of identity. It reflects a world where meanings are multiple, unstable, and context-dependent, and tragedy is subject to reevaluation and reinterpretation.
The structure of Postmodern Tragedy is typically nonlinear, fragmented, and multilayered. It may employ metafictional techniques, intertextuality, and pastiche, reflecting a playful and self-conscious engagement with form and content. The protagonists may be elusive, contradictory, or indeterminate, reflecting the ambiguity and complexity of postmodern existence.
Focus
Non-linear narratives, metafiction.
Structure
Fragmentation, multiple perspectives.
Plays
“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by Stoppard and “Endgame” by Samuel Beckett.
Experimental tragedy
Experimental Tragedy is a form of dramatic art that seeks to challenge and transcend the traditional conventions of tragedy. Unlike classical or well-established tragic forms, Experimental Tragedy emphasises innovation, non-linear storytelling, and abstract themes, and often incorporates unconventional theatrical techniques and multimedia elements.
Experimental Tragedy may deliberately blur the lines between character, narrator, actor, and audience, undermining traditional distinctions and seeking a more direct, visceral engagement with the spectator. Themes such as alienation, absurdity, power dynamics, identity, and human consciousness are often explored in a fragmented, multi-layered, and ambiguous manner.
The structure of Experimental Tragedy is often non-linear, fragmented, or cyclical, reflecting a rejection of conventional narrative progression and causality. The plays may incorporate a mix of styles, genres, and media, including movement, dance, music, video, and visual art.
Focus
Existential, philosophical, social, or psychological themes.
Structure
Non-linear, fragmented, media, movement.
Plays
“Endgame” by Samuel Beckett and “4.48 Psychosis” by Sarah Kane.
New tragedy
New Tragedy is a contemporary genre that departs from traditional forms. Emerging in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, it reflects modern sensibilities, themes, language, and styles. New Tragedy often breaks established conventions, experimenting with narrative structure, character development, and thematic exploration.
New Tragedy engages with the complexities of modern life, including existential dilemmas, social fragmentation, alienation, and the search for meaning. Themes such as identity, morality, technology, and the human condition are central to this genre.
The characters in New Tragedy are frequently ordinary individuals facing extraordinary circumstances, moral ambiguity, or existential crisis. The tragic element may arise from internal conflicts, societal pressures, or the absurdity and unpredictability of modern existence.
The structure of New Tragedy often defies traditional forms, embracing non-linear narratives, mixed media, minimalism, and other experimental techniques. Language may be colloquial, fragmented, or poetic, reflecting the diverse and multifaceted nature of contemporary experience.
Focus
Complexities of modern life, social fragmentation, alienation.
Plays
“4.48 Psychosis” by Sarah Kane and “August Osage County” by Tracy Letts.
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