1. Tragic Hero: The story revolves around a protagonist, known as the tragic hero, who possesses admirable qualities but also has a fatal flaw, known as hamartia, which ultimately leads to their downfall.
2. Hubris: The tragic hero demonstrates excessive pride (hubris) and often overestimates their capabilities or challenges the gods, leading to their doom.
3. Reversal of Fortune: The protagonist experiences a reversal of fortune from a state of good luck, power, or prosperity to one of misery and ruin. This shift from triumph to disaster is referred to as "peripeteia" and leads to the hero's downfall.
4. Recognition (Anagnorisis): At some point in the story, the tragic hero gains a clear understanding of their true identity, situation, or the circumstances that have led to their downfall. This often involves the acknowledgment of their fatal mistake or error.
5. Catharsis: Tragedy aims to evoke emotions of fear, pity, and ultimately catharsis in the audience through the tragic hero's fall. Catharsis refers to the purification or purging of these emotions experienced by the audience, leaving them with a sense of emotional release and contemplation.
6. Fate/Destiny: Classical tragedies often involve elements of fate and destiny. External forces such as fate, divine retribution, or ancestral curses play a role in shaping the downfall of the tragic hero and cannot be fully controlled or evaded.