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Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy
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History v. Tragedy
Character
History relates what has happened dealing with a specific event
The protagonist should be prosperous and renowned (someone the audience relates to)
BUT
because of a tragic flaw, hamartia, the character causes his own downfall.
Elements of a Tragic Character
Tragedy relates what can happen and is universal.
- true to life
- true to themselves
- true to station (tender is appropriate for a woman but not a warrior)
What do you think?
Which is superior: tragic literature or history?
Tragedy Defined:
The imitation of serious action
Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy
The Medium:
The medium of a tragedy is drama not
narrative. It shows not tells.
Plot Vocabulary
Pity and Fear:
Plot
Arouses pity and fear through
universal cause and effect
In a tragedy, the main character faces a change in fortune, a catastrophe. At the time of the catastrophe, the character has a change from ignorance to knowledge, anagnorisis. The anagnorisis occurs because of a peripeteia. A peripeteia is an effect opposite of what is intended.
The plot must be a complete cause and effect chain usually ending in death.
Oedipus Example:
The events should be rational, or if irrational, the events should be outside of the tragedy.
A prophesy says that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother. His father sends him way to avoid this tragedy.
- Peripeteia - Oedipus learns that his "parents" are not really his parents. This is meant to comfort him BUT it actually leads to the anagnorisis.
- Anagnorisis - Oedipus realizes that he has fulfilled the prophecy.
- Catastrophe - Oedipus is devastated and suffers great emotional turmoil as a result.
The themes and events should be universal and significant.