Which term refers to the emotional release experienced by audiences after tragic events?

• A. Tragedy
• B. Catharsis
• C. Foreshadowing
• D. Flashback

Answer: (B)

Catharsis is the emotional release audiences experience after engaging with tragic events. It describes that sense of relief or cleansing that comes as viewers or readers purge the intense emotions stirred by the drama, often linked to feeling pity for the characters and fear of experiencing similar fate themselves, followed by a calmer, clarified perspective. The idea goes back to discussions of tragedy where the art leads to a renewed emotional balance for the audience.

Tragedy refers to the genre or the events themselves, not the release. Foreshadowing is a hint of what’s to come, and a flashback shows a past moment within the story.