A tragedy is a dramatic work that portrays the acute struggle of an exceptional individual against exceptional external obstacles or a complex inner mental struggle.
At the heart of a tragedy is the conflict between an exceptional individual who seeks an exalted goal and superior forces. The forces opposing the hero may be represented by other people, by society, by fate. In the hero’s action, which makes the tragic denouement inevitable, the main conflict of tragedy is embodied. For example, Othello, Hamlet, King Lear, defending the humanistic principle of life, fight with people of different views and die. The conflict in the tragedy is irresolvable.

The action that has tragic consequences is not due to the stupidity, imperfections, or vices of the hero. On the contrary, the hero of the tragedy is necessarily courageous, possessing intelligence, willpower, powerful feelings, and not prepared to compromise his values despite all warnings and cautions. But this does not cancel out the tragic denouement. The conflict of tragedy ends with the defeat of the hero (not necessarily death); it may well be internal or concern the loss of something vital.

Since ancient times, one of the most essential attributes of tragedy has been catharsis (Greek katharsys: purification) – spiritual purification as a result of the shock experienced by the spectator of a tragic performance, seized by horror and compassion.
Tragedy originated in ancient folklore during a festival dedicated to the god Dionysus. The conflicts of the tragedies are distinguished by their seriousness, depth, and sublimity, while the characters are character-driven and significant, which produces an emotional impact on the audience. The ancient Greeks, given the educational value of tragedy, called it the “crown of art.
An ancient tragedy is the perfect form of tragedy. These are the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

Tragedy reached its highest perfection during the Renaissance (Shakespeare) and in Classicism (Corneille, Jacques Racine).

Comedy is a dramatic work in which some negative traits and characteristics of people, and sometimes the whole system of social relations are ridiculed.

The comedy is based on some conflict, which in fact is only apparent, illusory. For this reason, the conclusion of the comedy is often presented as a demonstration of its illusory and insignificance, accompanied by the exposure of human flaws and passions.

The typical end of a comedy is a happy ending. Often the comedy’s plot is based on the triad “initial equilibrium – violation of equilibrium – restoration of equilibrium. Unlike tragedy with its gloomy and sublime atmosphere, comedy is characterized by bustle, confusion and confusion. An imbalance in a comedy is sometimes the result of a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, and therefore the restoration of the balance is usually the elimination of this misunderstanding, that is, the character’s realization of the illusiveness of his fears and fears.

The comedy is dominated by a low, laughing beginning, and by this it differs from both tragedy and drama. “Low” in this case must be understood as the opposite of “sublime”: in comedy simple people act, usually funny and original, their images devoid of heroism or high pathos. They are ordinary characters with their human weaknesses and flaws. Accordingly, they pursue ordinary, mediocre, “low” goals.

The heroes of comedy are often untenable, inadequate to their position, blinded by passion, as if they do not have the appearance of a normal person. Their failure is ultimately expressed in the fact that they are incapable of arousing the indignation of the viewer.

Drama is a special kind of drama, combining both the tragic and the comic.

Drama occupies an intermediate position between comedy and tragedy:

From tragedy drama takes a serious conflict, from comedy – its happy, prosperous ending, which comes thanks to the hero’s realization of his mistake. At the same time, drama rarely rises to the same heights as tragedy: drama often portrays ordinary private life devoid of heroism. The conflict of a drama can be domestic or psychological.
Drama combines not only high but also low beginning, not only tragedy and high feelings, but also comedy, buffoonery, ridicule. Because of this, comedy can be correlated with the medium (elegant) style.

The drama is based on a conflict that has no super-personal character. The playwright, as a rule, depicts the everyday private life of people, their various relationships, collisions.

The element of the drama is modernity, the private life of people, a situation based on resolvable conflicts concerning the fate of an individual person, not affecting events of great national importance.