ENG 102 - Lecture - Spr17
Aristotle's Poetics and Tragedy
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
last time
- Outlined Aristotle's Poetics
- Worked on initial ePortfolio outcomes related to Project 1 in Digication
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“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.”
“the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself;”
This means that a good tragedy deals with one issue that is very “serious.” You can’t have a tragedy about something trivial like breaking a fingernail. “Magnitude” here means great importance. The issue has to be serious and very, very important. That’s why a lot of tragedies deal with someone’s death. “Complete in itself” means that the play must stick to the one issue; otherwise, the audience will get lost in the plot.
“in appropriate and pleasurable language:”
Ancient Greek tragedy had a chorus whose role was to comment on the action of the play. The chorus sometimes sang their part. Aristotle said that the language should be easy to listen to. It should have rhythm and also good harmony for the lines that were sung.
“in a dramatic rather than narrative form;”
To narrate a story is simply to tell the story, like telling a friend what happened over the weekend. In a play, the story must be dramatized or acted out.
“with incidents arousing pity and fear,”
In a tragedy, the events or episodes in the play should lead the audience to feel very sorry for the main character—the tragic hero. The audience should also feel afraid for the hero as he moves toward a destructive end.
“wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions.”
As the play moves along, the events should build up the emotions of pity and fear. A catharsis is a purging, or cleansing of the emotions--a release of tension. In a tragedy, this is often a moment of revelation when the tragic hero “falls flat on his face,” and the audience can finally “explode.”
Aristotle said that tragedy has six main elements:
1. Plot; 2. Character; 3. Thought;
4. Diction; 5. Melody; 6. Spectacle.
This means that a good tragedy deals with one issue that is very “serious.” You can’t have a tragedy about something trivial like breaking a fingernail. “Magnitude” here means great importance. The issue has to be serious and very, very important. That’s why a lot of tragedies deal with someone’s death. “Complete in itself” means that the play must stick to the one issue; otherwise, the audience will get lost in the plot.
“in appropriate and pleasurable language:”
Ancient Greek tragedy had a chorus whose role was to comment on the action of the play. The chorus sometimes sang their part. Aristotle said that the language should be easy to listen to. It should have rhythm and also good harmony for the lines that were sung.
“in a dramatic rather than narrative form;”
To narrate a story is simply to tell the story, like telling a friend what happened over the weekend. In a play, the story must be dramatized or acted out.
“with incidents arousing pity and fear,”
In a tragedy, the events or episodes in the play should lead the audience to feel very sorry for the main character—the tragic hero. The audience should also feel afraid for the hero as he moves toward a destructive end.
“wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions.”
As the play moves along, the events should build up the emotions of pity and fear. A catharsis is a purging, or cleansing of the emotions--a release of tension. In a tragedy, this is often a moment of revelation when the tragic hero “falls flat on his face,” and the audience can finally “explode.”
Aristotle said that tragedy has six main elements:
1. Plot; 2. Character; 3. Thought;
4. Diction; 5. Melody; 6. Spectacle.
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why tragedy?
We struggle with accepting our fates, and though eventually we may accept what our destined fates, we still at times experience doubt and insecurity- yet it is “hope” that allows us to push forward and is what keeps us motivated to achieve our fate in life, no matter what the consequences may be.
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mimesis
- Without tragedy to provide examples of life at its (occasional) lowest moments, it would be difficult for people to fully appreciate the meaning of life, and what it means to “be alive” in and to fully “experience” this world. (mimesis)
- Commonality that forms humanistic bonds of affiliation
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