Skip to main content

Why tragedies are alluring - David E. Rivas

680,537 Views

28,858 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

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.

Explain how Oedipus exhibits hubris?

Sign in to answer question

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

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

More from Reading Between the Lines