Deep Dive: Tragedy.

Written By: Sierra Cassity

The hero falls, and the bad guy won. The end. Right?

Kind of, but let’s take a deep dive into tragedy, learn its plot structure, history, and why so many people love to read it.

History.

Tragedies can be traced back to Ancient Greece. Way back then we used tragedies as a way of lamenting about past heroes and their lessons. Storytelling has always been about teaching. As humans before the written word we would gather and use oral story-telling. Tragedies often teach us not to take on anything often too big for us to handle or to be more careful with what we agree to do.

What is Plot?

When a writer works through their story, they hit something called pacing points, referred to as plot points. A plot structure helps eep writers from going off on a tangent in the story without purpose. In other words, the plot keeps the story moving forward to the end.

Plot Embryo.

Dan Harmon’s Plot Embryo shows the structure of a story in pie diagram format. The story begins with You, where the readers meet the protagonist of the story. Need is the second step that involves the protagonist learning about the main storyline that will be complete by the end of the story or a need that will be met. Next, Go is where the protagonist is off on their journey. Search, the protagonist is officially off, here there is usually some tests of faith. Find is the halfway point and a critical moment for the protagonist. Take, also known as the ‘point of no return’, there is no turning around and going back to their old life. This is where character development really picks up. Return, the protagonist can make their way back. Conflict Over, resolution, and the end.

The Hero’s Journey.

To discuss tragedy, we first have to understand the plot structure of the hero. This is a ‘full plot embryo’ that is split into a three-act structure. The first act is labeled Departure and includes: Ordinary Wold, Call to Action, Refusal of Call, and Meet the Mentor. While each of these are self-explanatory, I will give a short description of each.

Act One: Departure

Ordinary World.

This is where we meet the protagonist. The reader gets acquainted with the main character setting, and world the story is going to take place in.

Call to Action.

Just like in a regular plot embryo, the Call to Action leads the protagonist on to the beginning of their journey.

Refusal of the Call.

The hero doesn’t always want to go and leave their home or regular life behind. They will try to deny the call.

Meet the Mentor.

The mentor is often seen as someone older than the hero or a sort of all-knowing being that helps by guiding the hero on their way.

Act Two: Initiation.

This is the largest section of the three. Entering the unknown world the hero does through five plot points here. The First Threshold, Tests, Enemies and Allies, Approach the Inner Most Cave, Ordeal, and Reward. This is the meat of the story.

The First Threshold.

This is the first task for the hero.

Tests, Enemies and Allies.

The hero faces different tests. giant allies, and makes enemies along the way.

Approach the Inner Most Cave.

The point of no return. The low point for the hero. The hero questions their ability, usually before the main conflict.

Ordeal.

The big fight. This is usually a long section where the hero has to face their own mortality.

Reward.

No need to worry, the hero wins!

Act Three: The Return.

This is the resolution of the hero’s journey. It includes: The Road Back, Resurrection, Return with Elixir, and Ordinary World.

The Road Back.

The hero didn’t just make the journey to where hey are, they have to head back home.

Resurrection.

Sometimes you have to bring someone back to life. This usually happens when a writer does a ‘fade to black’ on the battlefield or directly after the hero wins as the hero looks down to see the sword or other fatal would they’ve received and drops on the battlefield.

Return with Elixir.

Time for the hero to return home, usually with a great reward or elixir to save someone they love, maybe even the entire reason they went on the journey to begin with.

Ordinary World.

And we finish with the hero back in their home, content and retired from heroics.

Tragedy Embryo.

Now that we have gone over the hero’s journey. we can look a the tragedy embryo with clear understanding. Right way we can see that this is going to be different. With seen plot points, we can write tragedies that bring tears to readers eyes.

You.

The main character sets out toward their unknowing demise.

Anticipation.

The protagonist believes they are the hero. Maybe they want to save their own loved ones in peril. This is where we build up their hopes and dreams, making them a well-rounded character.

Dream.

Every character has a team This is where we reveal the main character’s dream, as well as their fatal flaw. Something is inherently wrong, dooming the story from the very start.

Frustration.

As the plot progresses the protagonist faces frustration after frustration. Maybe things aren’t going the way they are supposed to, there isn’t a reward for doing something right. Or maybe there was no right way to do it to begin with. We have also entered the Unknown World. The protagonist is venturing further out of their comfort zone, maybe out of desperation.

Nightmare.

This is the point of no return. The protagonist is really struggling now with the weight of the world bearing down on them. Maybe there’s an option to go home and abandon the quest. They won’t take it.

Destruction.

This is Insufficient Realization. A terrible moment where the protagonist realizes they aren’t going to make it back home. This usually happens sometime in the final battle.

Death.

The protagonist dies or is otherwise unable to ever finish their quest and return home.