View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-tragedies-are-alluring-david-e-rivas

The story goes something like this: A royal, rich, or righteous individual — who is otherwise a lot like us — makes a mistake that sends his or her life spiraling into ruin. It's the classic story arc for a Greek tragedy, and we love it so much that we continue to use it today. David E. Rivas shares three critical story components, influenced by Aristotle’s “Poetics,” to help illustrate the allure.

Lesson by David E. Rivas, animation by Globizco.