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TED-Ed

Why tragedies are alluring - David E. Rivas

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The story goes something like this: A royal, rich, or righteous individual — who is otherwise a lot like us — makes a mistake that sends his or her life spiraling into ruin. It's the classic story arc for a Greek tragedy, and we love it so much that we continue to use it today. David E. Rivas shares three critical story components, influenced by Aristotle’s “Poetics,” to help illustrate the allure.

Watch the video and finish the Think section to complete the lesson.


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Meet The Creators

Educator
David E. Rivas
Director
Hernando Bahamon
Artist
Andrés Landazábal
Animator
Silvia Prietov, Gerardo Gonzalez, Jaime Giraldo, Ricardo Avila
Composer
Manuel Borda
Script Editor
Laura McClure
Narrator
Addison Anderson

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