Tragedy

By Aristotle
GROUP 7
Content
● Introduction to Aristotle
● Introduction to Poetics
● Introduction to Tragedy
● Six Elements of Tragedy:
1. Plot 4. Language
2. Characters 5. Music
3. Thought 6. Visual
Group Members
● Watsala Shakya
● Mehul Shrestha
● Sukeerti Shrestha
● Elizabeth Shrestha
● Sonu Shrestha
Introduction to
Aristotle
Watsala Shakya
 Aristotle ( 384-322 BC)
● He is considered to be an intellect at
many forms of science and art; which
range from biology, botany, chemistry,
metaphysics, zoology, ethics, history,
logic, rhetoric, philosophy, politics and
psychology.
● One of the best philosopher during the
classical period in Ancient Greece.
Fun Fact about Aristotle

● The prolific writer wrote as many as 200

treaties out of which only 31 have
survived.
● At present, only one third of his work
exists.
● The works that survived are likely to be
lecture notes rather than books.
● He was a student and later a
colleague of Plato.
● Many of his earlier works were
influenced by Plato.
● His most notable works are:
1. Nichomachean Ethics
2. Politics
3. Metaphysics
4. Prior Analytics
5. Poetics
Introduction to Poetics
Watsala Shakya
Poetics (330 BC)
● ‘Poetics’ studies writing and poetry
scientifically.

● Aristotle observes, analyses and defines

mostly tragedy and epic poetry.

● Sadly, the portion on comedy has been lost.

● ‘Poetics’ is Aristotle’s response to his teacher,
Plato, who argued in ‘The Republic’ that poetry
is representation of mere appearance and is
thus misleading.

● It has been influential to playwrights, poets and

scholars since its creation.
● Aristotle introduces one of the most difficult
concepts, catharsis, in ‘Poetics’.

● Catharsis is often defined as the purification of

emotions (especially pity and fear) through art.

● Aristotle has used catharsis as a metaphor to

describe the effects of tragedy on observers.
Introduction to Tragedy
Mehul Shrestha
“The imitation of an action that is serious and
also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; In
language with pleasurable accessories, each
kind brought in separately in the arts of the
work; in a dramatic, not in a narrative form ;
with incidents arousing pity and fear,
wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such
emotions.”
➢ The imitation of an action that is serious and
also, as having magnitude, complete in itself

➢ In language with pleasurable accessories

➢in a dramatic, not in a narrative
form

➢with incidents arousing pity and

fear, wherewith to accomplish its
catharsis of such emotions.”
Difference Between Aristotle and
Shakespearean Tragedy
● Plot
Aristotelian Tragedy: Aristotelian tragedy has a single central
plot.
Shakespearean Tragedy: Shakespearean tragedy has several
subplots.
End
Aristotelian Tragedy: The protagonist face death or reversal of
fortune.
Shakespearean Tragedy: Protagonists often face a tragic death.
.
 ● Chorus
Aristotelian Tragedy: Aristotelian tragedy had a chorus.

Shakespearean Tragedy: Shakespearean tragedy has replaced the

chorus with a comic scene.

● Recognition
Aristotelian Tragedy: The protagonist learns the truth of the
situation or comes to a realization about himself.

Shakespearean Tragedy: The protagonist does not always gain a

self-knowledge
Six Elements of Tragedy
1.PLOT
Sukeerti Shrestha
Unity of Plot

● One complete action

● Imitating “man in action”
● Believable and necessary to the main issue
● Dislike of episodic plots
● Must have a beginning, a middle and an end
● Governed by possibility
Reversal and Discovery
● Simple plot vs complex plots
● Peripeteia: reversal
● Anagnorisis: discovery
● Best if they accompany each other
● For eg: Oedipus
Pity and Fear

● Avoid three types of plots:

a. Good man going from happiness to misery (odious)
b. Bad man going from misery to happiness
c. Bad man going from happiness to misery
● We pity undeserved misfortune and fear if the pitied is like
us
● Some great fault on hero’s part
● Friends and family harming each other arouses
more pity than between enemies or indifferent
characters
● The harmful deed can either be done or not done,
knowingly or unknowingly
● One can discover the relationship in time to draw
back
2. CHARACTER
Elizabeth Shrestha
Tragic Flaw of Character

● Hamartia
● An error of the character’s judgement leads to
the hero’s downfall
● Othello: Jealousy
● Oedipus: Pride
Recognition

● Turning point where the hero discovers the

truth about an issue
Reversal of Fortune

● Misfortune in the hero’s life due to reversal of

his fortune
● Takes place because of the flaw in the character
Empathy

● Must arouse pity and fear in the audience

● Dear to everyone
True to life
● Audience should be able to identify
themselves with the feelings felt by the tragic
hero
Renowned and Prosperous

● Holds high position

● Even the fortunate are afflicted
● Tragic hero sometimes given historic names
3. THOUGHT
Sonu Shrestha
•Actions spring out of thoughts

•Actions and speech, co-existing components

of thought

•Reference to theme

•The catharsis; product of thought

4. LANGUAGE
•Verbal expression of the content

•Should be appropriate to the character, the

plot and the objective of the tragedy

•Emphasis on style and use of literary devices

•Arousing emotions of pity and fear

5. MUSIC
•Artistic form of language; appreciated by the
audience

•Creates and keeps the melody

•Strong role in ‘unity of action’

6. VISUAL
•Very little to do with the literature

•Usually not given enough attention by any

creator

•By product of a good play

•The way stage and dramatic elements look like

 References
● English II
● https://sites.google.com/site/nmeictproject/home/unity-of-action
● http://www.sarahgrochala.com/what-is-tragedy
● https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/a/agamemnon-the-choephori-and
-the-eumenides/critical-essay/aristotle-on-tragedy
● https://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/poetics/section6/
● http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/medical/cp2/film/client_edit/notes_2_27
.html