The word “tragedy” comes from the Greek words tragos, which means goat and oide, which means song. A tragedy is a dramatic poem or play in formal language and in most cases has a tragic or unhappy ending.

When did tragedy begin?

Historically, tragedy of a high order has been created in only four periods and locales: Attica, in Greece, in the 5th century bce; England in the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, from 1558 to 1625; 17th-century France; and Europe and America during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th.

Who invented tragedy?

According to ancient tradition, Thespis was the first actor in Greek drama. He was often called the inventor of tragedy, and his name was recorded as the first to stage a tragedy at the Great (or City) Dionysia (c. 534 bc).