TRAGEDY, a dramatic poem repre senting an important event, or a series of events, in the life of some person or persons, in which the diction is elevated, and which has generally a tragic or fatal catastrophe; that species of drama which represents a tragical situation or a tragical character. Tragedy originated among the Greeks in the worship of Dionysus. Thespis first introduced dia logue in the choral odes, and made one entire story occupy the pauses in the chorus. His first representation was in 535 B. C. He was succeeded by Phryni chus and Chcerilus, and is said to have written 150 pieces, none of which has come down to us. JEschylus (525-456 B. c.) added a second actor, diminished the parts of the chorus, and made the dialogue the principal part of the action. He also introduced scenery, and masks for actors, and is also said to have in troduced the custom of contending with trilogies, or three plays at a time. In
his later years he added a third actor.
Sophocles (495-405 B. c.) further improv ed the scenery and costume. In the hands of Euripides (480-405 B. c.) tragedy de teriorated in dignity; one of his pecu liarities was the prologue, or introduc tory monologue, in which some god or hero opens the play, telling who he is, what has already happened, and what is the present state of affairs. He also in vented tragicomedy. The first Roman tragic poet was Livius Andronicus, a Greek by birth, who began to exhibit in 240 B. C. He was succeeded by Nmvius (died 204 B. C.), and Ennius (239-169 B. c.) The only complete Roman trag. edies that have come down to us are the 10 attributed to Seneca (A. D. 2-65). The first English tragedy is "Gorboduc, or Ferrex and Porrex," acted in 1562. See DRAMA.