Question

Which plot is the best example of a tragedy?

A. An old man tells his grandson the heartbreaking story of his experiences as a soldier in world war 2.
B. A little girl is lost on the streets of New York City, and her parents work to find her as quickly as possible.
C. The chief of police loses his job and the respect of his family after his lies and criminal connections are exposed.
D. A couple struggles to stay together as their families and careers manage to keep them apart.

Answer 1

I believe it should be C.

Answer 2

The correct answer is: Option C. The chief of police loses his job and the respect of his family after his lies and criminal connections are exposed.

While a tragedy may be considered as any story that invokes sadness on the reader or listener, it is in fact the focus on a main character in the plot and the actions that caused them to befall in misery.

All of the options may seem tragic, but the majority of these misfortunes are caused by external factors that the characters did not necessarily brought to their lives, whereas in option C, the protagonist of the story is responsible for the actions that caused his plight.