One example of tragedy and pathos is the tale of Little Hugh. The little boy grows up with a love and reverence to the Virgin Mary. When he hears a song to her that he doesn't know, he asks to be taught the song so that he can sing his praises to her. After learning the song, the little boy sings it as he walks throughout the city, which upsets those in the Jewish quarter. Hugh is murdered for his singing, and the one's responsible for his death are severely punished. Although he is revered and gets an exquisite burial, this doesn't take away from the fact that there was violence and tragedy involved. The anti-Semitism of the story adds to the tragedy, because Jews were looked down upon for centuries. Historically, the tragedy pertains to the Jews, and in the story, the tragedy pertains to little Hugh.
Another story that deals with tragedy on several levels is The Promise of Dorigen. Dorigen's husband goes off on his knightly duties, leaving his beloved wife at home. She makes herself sick with worry and can't stop thinking about her husband dying by having his ship shatter on the large rocks of the sea. A squire falls deeply in love with Dorigen, and she promises him her love only if all of the rocks disappear. The squire encounters tragedy upon the husband's safe return, yet Dorigen suffers when the squire enlists the help of a magician to cover up the rocks. She sorrowfully tells her husband of the promise, and he too undergoes tragedy because he must let his wife go. The squire sees all of this and releases her from her promise, but for him, the tragedy is unrequited love.
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