Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy �in the Poetics�look at the following website for extra help: http://www2.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics.html &
http://faculty.gvsu.edu/websterm/Tragedy.htm
Tragedy
Aristotle wrote down what he deemed to be the ideal form of the tragic play. The tragic play captivated audiences, and Aristotle essentially wrote down the formula. One can argue that many playwrights and screenplay writers have used his analysis or formula as a guide over the years.
Aristotle’s Definition of Tragedy
“A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language;… in a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions.”
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2. “in appropriate and pleasurable
language:”
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3. “in a dramatic rather than narrative form;”
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4. “with incidents arousing pity and fear,”
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5. “wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions.”
Aristotle’s Elements of Tragedy
6 Elements:
* let’s look only at plot and character
Character
Distinguishing features of the
tragic hero
The protagonist should be true to life, yet more beautiful and renowned and prosperous, so his change of fortune can be from good to bad. This change “should come about as the result, not of vice, but of some great error or frailty in a character.”
Hamartia
Harmartia arose from the Greek verb hamartanein, meaning "to miss the mark" or "to err." Aristotle introduced the term in the Poetics to describe the error of judgment which ultimately brings about the tragic hero's downfall.
Plot
4. Catharsis
*we will only deal with the first 3
(a character produces an effect
opposite to that which he intended )
sympathy
Final scene of suffering
Comic Tragic Strip
After We Read the Play
While reading the play, we will recognize how Shakespeare’s play fits the formula Aristotle outlined. Then, you will analyze a type of genre that is popular today (e.g., reality tv) and write the formula.