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Aristotle’s Poetics

Presented by

Asst. Prof. O. D. Kudalkar

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Definitions - Theatre Spaces

  • Theatre must have a live performer and a live audience. That’s it.
  • Proscenium stage
  • Thrust stage
  • Arena stage
  • Found spaces
  • Environmental staging

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Audience

  • Forms a collective identity
  • Cyclic interchange with performers
  • Different behaviors expected in different times, performance styles
  • Critic as privileged audience member
    • Peer reviewers for grants
    • Academic critics

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Aristotle’s Poetics

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  • His Lectures and La Poetica

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Aristotle’s Poetics

C. 350 BCE; 1st extant work of literary or artistic criticism

  • Focus on tragedy; did he also write ones on comedy and epic poetry?
  • Imitation is the basis of art (from Plato); drama is imitation of action
  • Definition of tragedy

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Six Elements of Drama

  • In order of importance to Aristotle:
  • Plot
  • Character
  • Thought (theme)
  • Diction (artistic use of language)
  • Song/Music
  • Spectacle

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Plot Elements

  • Beginning, middle, end structure
  • Unity and probability
  • A complex vs. a simple plot is preferred; this includes peripety (reversal) and anagnorisis (recognition)
  • Single vs. double (no subplots)
  • Goal (telos) is catharsis - gives drama a social function in the polis

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Character elements

  • Characters should also be probable or necessary
  • Hero
    • Good
    • Aim at propriety
    • True to life
    • Consistent
  • Hamartia (tragic flaw): meaning much debated