Tragedy

This article refers to the literary work. For the punk band see Tragedy (band)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tragedy is a form of drama characterized by seriousness and dignity, usually involving a conflict between a character and some higher power, such as the law, the gods, fate, or society. Its origins are obscure, but it is certainly derived from the rich poetic and religious traditions of ancient Greece. Its roots may be traced more specifically to the dithyrambs, the chants and dances honoring the Greek god Dionysus, later known to the Romans as Bacchus. These drunken, ecstatic performances were said to have been created by the satyrs, half-goat beings who surrounded Dionysus in his revelry, and the Greek words tragos meaning "goat" and aeidein "to sing" were combined in the word tragoidia, "goat-songs," from which the word "tragedy" is derived.

Related Topics:
Drama - Fate - Ancient Greece - Dithyramb - Greek god - Dionysus - Romans - Bacchus - Satyrs - Greek

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~