"Tragedy" is a book written by Ashley H. Thorndike, first published in 1908. It is an examination of the literary genre of tragedy, which has been a popular form of storytelling since ancient Greek times. In the book, Thorndike analyzes the elements of tragedy, including plot, character, and language. He discusses the origins of tragedy, its development over time, and the different forms it has taken in different cultures. Thorndike also explores the various theories of tragedy that have been proposed by philosophers and literary critics throughout history. He examines the works of Aristotle, Hegel, Nietzsche, and other prominent thinkers, and considers their ideas about the purpose and meaning of tragedy. Throughout the book, Thorndike provides examples of tragic works from a variety of cultures and time periods, including Greek tragedies, Shakespearean plays, and modern works. He offers insights into the ways in which tragedy has evolved and adapted over time, and the enduring appeal of this powerful form of storytelling. Overall, "Tragedy" is a comprehensive and insightful examination of the literary genre of tragedy, and its ongoing relevance to our understanding of human nature and the human condition.
Ashley Horace Thorndike lived in America from 1871 until his death on April 17, 1933, was an educator. He was the brother of Lynn Thorndike, an American historian of mediaeval science and alchemy, and Edward Lee Thorndike, who is credited with founding contemporary educational psychology. He was the son of clergyman Edward R. Thorndike. He was a professor at Columbia University and the coauthor of the renowned textbooks Facts about Shakespeare, Tragedy, and English Comedy. When returning from a club dinner in Manhattan, he passed away after a heart attack. He was Lynn Thorndike's brother, a mediaeval historian. In order to categories' plays created in the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean periods, he coined the phrase "revenge tragedy" in 1900. He gave the Shakespeare Lecture at the British Academy in 1927.
