The abduction of Helen, wife of King Menelaus, by the Trojan prince Paris, sets in motion the chain of events leading to the Trojan War and the tragic downfall of many heroes.

The tragic events of Romeo and Juliet are triggered by a mix-up in delivering messages, leading to Romeo believing Juliet is dead and Juliet believing Romeo has abandoned her.

The tragic climax of Oedipus Rex occurs when Oedipus discovers that he unknowingly killed his father and married his mother, fulfilling a prophecy and leading to his downfall.

The tragic event in Paradise Lost is the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, resulting in the loss of paradise and the introduction of sin and suffering into the world.

In Dante's Inferno, those who commit the sin of lust are punished by being blown about by violent winds, symbolizing the tumultuous nature of their desires.

In Dickinson's poem, the speaker's journey with Death is prompted by the tragic death of a loved one, leading to a profound contemplation of mortality and the afterlife.

In Eliot's poem, the death of the Fisher King symbolizes the spiritual desolation and fragmentation of modern society, leading to a quest for renewal and redemption.

In Morrison's novel, Sethe is haunted by the tragic event of killing her infant daughter, Beloved, to protect her from a life of slavery.

Willy Loman's tragic flaw is his obsession with success, which blinds him to the realities of his situation and ultimately leads to his downfall.

The tragic climax of 'The Great Gatsby' is the death of Gatsby, a victim of his own dreams and the moral decay of the American Dream.

In Hemingway's novel, the tragic event that tests the protagonist Santiago's resilience and determination is the attack by sharks on the giant marlin he has caught.

The tragic event that leads to the breaking of the Fellowship in 'The Lord of the Rings' is the death of Boromir, who succumbs to the temptation of the One Ring.

The tragic event in '1984' is the protagonist Winston Smith's surrender of his individuality and his acceptance of the totalitarian regime's ideology.

In Atwood's novel, the ritualistic rape ceremonies symbolize the tragic oppression of women in the dystopian society of Gilead.

The tragic event in 'Never Let Me Go' is the realization by the protagonists that they are clones created for organ donation, with limited lifespans.