Aristotle on Tragedy

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Aristotle on Tragedy
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Aristotles Definition of Tragedy

• Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is
  serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude in
  language embellished with each kind of artistic
  ornament. . . in the form of action, not of
  narrative with incidents arousing pity and fear,
  wherewith to accomplish its katharsis of such
  emotions. Aristotle

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Tragedy must be about a Serious Subject

• The stuff of tragedy must be serious must be
  something monumental such as the assissnation of
  a President which significantly alters all our
  lives it must have profound consequences
  involving people whose fate affects many beyond
  themselves it is a public event rather than a
  private event.

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Tragedy must have a Tragic Figure

• The Tragic Figure
• Must excite pity and fear one who is neither
  evil nor extremely virtuous misfortune for the
  Tragic Figure is brought about not by vice or
  depravity, but by some error or frailty his
  Tragic Flaw.
• Be of High Stature
• Be extraordinary, not typical

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The Tragic Figure must have a Tragic Flaw

• Some error or frailty which brings about the
  Tragic Figures misfortune
• Might be ambition, pride, rashness, passion
• External circumstances can also contribute to the
  downfall

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Tragedy must have an Effective Plot

• Plot must be
• Complete Complex with a beginning, middle,
  end
• Events must lead naturally to what follows and
  point toward the end
• End must follow naturally from what has gone
  before and conclude the action
• Complex moves in various directions by means of
  reversal and recognition
• Reversal accuser becomes the accused the
  prosecuter becomes the defendant
• Recognition change from ignorance to knowledge
  increases the tragic effect of the drama

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Tragedy must have a Certain Magnitude

• Action in a tragedy must have magnitude
• Must be a convincing chain of events that change
  a situation from good to bad fortune

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Tragedy must have Embellished Language

• Aristotle says tragedy should be expressed in
  poetry the highest form of expression in
  Aristotles time

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Tragedy must take the form of action, not of
narrative

• Aristotle believes the lines should be acted, not
  simply read or told
• Audience must see the drama unfold before them

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Tragedy must Evoke Pity Fear

• Tragedy makes the audience fear that such events
  could happen to them
• Tragedy makes the audience feel pity for the
  Tragic Figure
• Audience feels pity in part because the Tragic
  Figure accepts his/her fate

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Tragedy must evoke Catharsis

• Catharsis is the process of purging the
  audiences pity and fear
• Catharsis allows the audience to leave uplifted
  because their emotions have been expended in the
  theater and they are purged for the time being
• The Tragic Figures acceptance of his/her fate is
  an affirmation of human values
• The audience receives solace through the insight
  provided by the Tragic Figures suffering

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Tragedy includes Dramatic Irony

• Dramatic Irony occurs when the audience knows
  things that the characters on stage do not
  therefore, the audience has insight and can
  interpret actions and information differently
  than the characters.