ARISTOTLE POETICS

• Aristotle defines poetry as the imitative, use of language, rhythm, and harmony,
separately or in combination. Humans are naturally drawn to imitation, and so poetry
has a strong pull on us.
• Aristotle identifies tragedy as the most refined version of poetry dealing with lofty
matters and comedy as the most refined version of poetry dealing with base matters.
• Aristotle traces a brief and speculative history of tragedy as Dithyrambs were sung
by a large choir. Aeschylus invented tragedy by bringing a second actor into
dialogue with the narrator. Further, Sophocles introducing a third actor, and then
tragedy shifted to its contemporary dramatic form.
• Aristotle defines tragedy as an imitation of action that is serious and also as having
magnitude, complete in itself, in appropriate and pleasurable language; in dramatic
rather than narrative form, with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to
accomplish a catharsis of these emotions.
• A tragedy consists of six component parts: plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle.
• Aristotle defined plot as “the arrangement of incidents". Plot must be a whole with the beginning, middle
and end. Plot must be complete having unity of action. Episodic plots are bad because there is no
necessity to the sequence of events. The best kind of plot contains surprises that fit logically into the
sequence of events. The best kinds of surprises are brought about by peripeteia.
• For a tragedy to arouse pity and fear, we must observe a hero who is noble and going from happiness to
misery or changing from good to bad.
• Character will support plot. According to Aristotle characters must be good, appropriate, true to life, must
be consistent.
• Thought, thought is the power of saying whatever can be said and should be said at each moment of the
plot.
• Diction, is the expression of the meaning in words. Aristotle would describe this as being the “stylistic
element of tragedy”.
• Melody,( musical element of chorus). Melody should contribute to plot.
• Spectacle, spectacle refers to the staging of the play and should be appropriate to the theme of the play.
 SIMILARITIES AND DISSIMILARITY BTW
EPIC POETRY AND TRAGEDY
• Tragedy and epic poetry have many similar qualities, most notably the unity of plot and
similar subject matter.
• Both can be divided onto same species.
• Both can be in story of character.
• Epic poetry can be longer than tragedy because it is not performed. Another difference
in their size and contents. Tragedy uses song also.
• Epic poetry and tragedy are also written in different meters. Heroic meter used in epic
and iambic meter is used in tragedy. There are six parts in tragedy. Three derived from
object of imitation. Two from means and one from manner. Epic has only four parts.