Greek tragedies are serious dramas, many of which were written during the fifth century B.C. They are based on Greek myths, and they describe the downfall of a noble man or woman. The downfall is due to the character’s actions; the actions are controlled by fate, and the main character often has a tragic flaw or a characteristic that leads to the unfolding of the tragedy. Often, the theme of a Greek tragedy includes a warning against human limitations and against pride.

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• ​The main character, tragic hero, or protagonist

• Hamartia

• The antagonist

• Dramatic irony

​The elements of Greek tragedy are...

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​The subject of the play who experiences this reversal of fortune

​Main character/Tragic Hero/Protagonist

​a mistake or an error in judgment, sometimes due to character weakness or ignorance

​Hamatria

​an adversarial character or opposing force, contributing to the protagonist’s downfall

Antagonist

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the contradiction between what a character thinks and what the audience knows to be true

​​Dramatic irony

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