Aristotles structure of tragedy:

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Aristotles structure of tragedy

• Unity of Action Tragic Plots must have a clear
  beginning, middle, and end, and the action should
  be ordered and continuous, rising through a cause
  and effect process

2

• Catharsis- the events in the play should inspire
  pity and terror in its viewers, allowing them,
  through vicarious participation to attain an
  emotional experience.

3

• Scene of suffering- must take place in ordered to
  gain wisdom

4
Traits of a tragic hero, according to
AristotleA tragic hero is a man who has a
mixture of good and bad personality traits. A
tragic hero has one major flaw, which is the
cause of his downfall. A tragic hero has
hubris, or an excessive amount of pride. The
tragic hero is an ordinary man, someone with whom
most people can relate. The tragic hero
almost always falls in the end.
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• Causes for the Outbreak of Witchcraft Hysteria in
  Salem
• 1.  Strong belief that Satan is acting in the
  world. ---------"The invisible world" disease,
  natural catastrophes, and bad fortune attributed
  to work of the devil 2.  A belief that Satan
  recruits witches and wizards to work for him.
  ---------Prior witchcraft cases in New England
  (and Europe before) 3.  A belief that a person
  afflicted by witchcraft exhibits certain
  symptoms. ---------Cotton Mather's Memorable
  Providences ---------Most symptoms can be
  feigned 4.  A time  of troubles, making it seem
  likely that Satan was active. ---------Smallpox
  ---------Congregational strife in Salem Village
  ---------Frontier wars with Indians 5. 
  Stimulation of imaginations by Tituba.
  6.   Convulsive ergotism, a disease caused by
  eating infecting rye that can produce
  hallucinations, causing strange behavior? 
  (Interesting theory, but unlikely.)7.  Teenage
  boredom. ---------No television, no CDs, and
  lots of Bible reading ---------Strict and
  humorless Parris household 8.  Magistrates and
  judges receptive to accusations of witchcraft.
  ---------See as way to shift blame for their own
  wartime failures ---------Admission of spectral
  evidence 9.  Confessing "witches" adding
  credibility to earlier charges.10.  Old feuds
  (disputes within congregation, property disputes)
  between the accusers and the accused spurring
  charges of witchcraft.

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• Why the Hysteria Ended
• 1.  Doubts grow when respected citizens are
  convicted and executed. -------Rebecca Nurse
  (jury first acquits, then told to reconsider)
  -------George Burroughs (recites Lord's Prayer
  perfectly at hanging) -------Giles Corey
  (81-year-old is pressed to death) 2. 
  Accusations of witchcraft include the powerful
  and well-connected. -------Wife of Governor
  Phips -------Mary Philip English (and others)
  3.  The educated elite of Boston pressure Gov.
  Phips to exclude spectral evidence. -------Rev.
  Samuel Willard and others -------Increase Mather
  points out the Devil could take the shape of an
  innocent person "It were better that 10
  suspected witches should escape than one innocent
  person should be condemned." 4.  Gov. Phips bars
  spectral evidence and disbands the Court.