An essay about the old that's very sad (7)
I believe the answer is:
tragedy
'very sad' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'an essay about the old' is the wordplay.
'an essay' becomes 'try' (I've seen this in another clue).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'the old' becomes 'aged' (I've seen this before).
'try' going around 'aged' is 'TRAGEDY'.
'that's' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tragedy that I've seen before include "Play with sad ending" , "Play ending unhappily" , "Sophoclean drama" , "Sad story" , "Drama genre" .)