A Tragic Pattern: How the Play is Built

Tragedy: A narrative about serious and important actions that end unhappily.• Usually ends with the death of main characters • Sometimes innocent characters

are affected • Sometimes the main characters

are responsible for their downfall

Shakespeare’s Tragic Plays

Five-Part Pattern

ACT IExposition

ACT IIICrisis / Turning Point

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ACT II Rising Action

ACT IVFalling Action

ACT VClimax & Resolution

Exposition (ACT I)

•Establishes the setting•Introduces the main characters •Explains background•Introduces the characters’ main conflict

Romeo and Juliet (Exposition)

Verona, Italy

Rising Action (ACT II)

• Consists of a series of complications• Occurs when main characters take

action to resolve their problems

Romeo and Juliet(Rising Action and

Complications)

Forbidden Love

Crisis or Turning Point(ACT III)

• Moment when a choice is made by one of the main characters that determines the direction of the action

Upward = happy ending (comedy)Downward = sad ending (tragedy)

• Dramatic and tense moment when the forces of conflict come together

Fight between Romeo and Tybalt

Romeo and Juliet(Crisis/Turning Point)

Falling Action(ACT IV)

• Presents events that result from the action taken in the turning point

• Events usually lock characters deeper into disaster

• With each event we see each character falling into tragedy

Romeo and Juliet(Falling Action)

Juliet taking poison to avoid Paris at all costs

Climax & Resolution(ACT V)

•CLIMAX: • Highest point of emotional intensity of the story

• The greatest and final event that takes place (death)•RESOLUTION:

• The loose parts of the plot are tied up and resolved

• Any questions are answered• Signifies the end of the play

Romeo and Juliet(Climax)

“ O happy dagger!”

Romeo and Juliet (Resolution )

“For never was there a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”