The protagonist of this story is Maximus, a general turned gladiator. Maximus’ hamartia is his stubborn loyalty to Rome and his need to do what he believes is right and just instead of what is in his best interests. ‘Gladiator’ begins in medias res.A characteristic of the tragic hero is their fatal flaw.Hubris is often […]

The Elizabethan/Jacobean world view The Divine Right to Rule The state of England under Elizabeth I and James I Shakespeare’s education and additional play SUMMARY + How did they influence Shakespeare? WORLD VIEW They viewed the world in ‘The Great Chain of Being’:GodAngelsKings/QueensCommonersAnimalsPlantsNon-living things Main focus of the chain was ORDER, CONTROL. The chain dictated […]

HAMARTIA – Flaw or error in judgementLear’s hamartia is his ego/prideThis is displayed throughout the play, both in the words he says, and the decisions that Lear makes. “Come not between the dragon and his wrath.” – Lear, Act 1, Scene 1Here, he refers to himself as a dragon, creatures known for their immense strength […]

Diction = The deliberate choice of words and how they are used in writing/speech Edgar ” Who gives any thing to poor Tom? whom the foulfiend hath led through fire and through flame, andthrough ford and whirlipool e’er bog and quagmire;that hath laid knives under his pillow, and haltersin his pew; set ratsbane by his […]

MELODY: Song/musical element of the tragedySPECTACLE: Sensory/visual effects MELODY is used by the fool in multiple occasions to convey his messages/dialogue “Then they for sudden joy did weep, And I for sorrow sung,That such a king should play bo-peep,And go the fools among.” – The Fool. “Fools had ne’er less wit in a year;For wise […]

Exposition/ProtasisAn explanation of a theory or idea / The beginning or ‘first part’ of a play, drama or poem. Character/ main plot introduced. Inciting incidentAn event that gets a reader interested or ‘hooked’ in the story. The event that puts the main character/protagonist into the main action of their story Rising action/Epistasis A series of […]

Exposition/ProtasisAn explanation of a theory or idea / The beginning or ‘first part’ of a play, drama or poem. Character/ main plot introduced. Inciting incidentAn event that gets a reader interested or ‘hooked’ in the story. The event that puts the main character/protagonist into the main action of their story Rising action/EpistasisA series of events […]

“Philosophers of the 18th Century looked for new ways to understand the acquisition of knowledge and human behaviour . Understanding their theories allows us an insight into Mary Shelley’s intentions in her gothic novel, Frankenstein.” “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains” – Jean Jacques Rousseau Society simply exists so that humans […]

Summary of the story: Unlike The Tell Tale Heart, in this text we are given the name of the character, and a decent backstory. Misery is everywhere, it comes in many forms The wretchedness of the earth exists in many forms also You can find wretchedness anywhere in anything From beauty you get ugliness, from […]

“Evil is a consequence of good, so, in fact, out of joy is sorrow born.” “Berenice” is a disturbing short horror story written by Edgar Allan Poe and published in 1835. The text follows a man named Egaeus who is soon to be married to his cousin, Berenice. Egaeus suffers from what he calls “Monomania” […]