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Why tragedies are alluring - David E. Rivas

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TEDEd Animation

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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.

Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear and Brutus are just a few of Shakespeare's characters that may be considered tragic heroes. Identify some tragic characters from recent films or books.

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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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