what kind of play was a greek tragedy?
Tragedy (from the Greek: ÏÏÎ±Î³á¿³Î´Î¯Î±, tragÅidia) is a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes in its audience an accompanying catharsis or pleasure in the viewing. For a work to be tragic, it need not have a tragic ending. 2  Although Aristotle says that catharsis (purgation of emotion) should be the goal of tragedy, this is only an ideal. 3  In conformity with the moral codes of the period, plays should not show evil being rewarded or nobility being degraded.