Aristotle's Views on Greek Tragedy

{tocify} $title={Table of Contents}

Aristotle was a great thinker of the second-century B.E.C. In his book, poetics, Aristotle commented on Greek tragedy as thus:

 

Tragedy, then, is a representation of an action that is worth serious attention, complete in itself, and of some amplitude; in language enriched by a variety of artistic devices appropriate to the several parts of the play; presented in the form of action, not narration; by means of pity and fear bringing about the purgation [catharsis] of such emotions.

 

Source of definition: https://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/drama/classical%20drama/aristotle.html

 

Elements of Greek Tragedy, According to Aristotle

According to Aristotle, there are six elements of the Ancient Greek Tragedy

1. Plot: Arrangements of the story is called a plot. According to Aristotle, a plot is a soul of the tragedy It has two kinds:

     1.1 Simple Plot: In which the hero is aware of his action: the arrangements of incidents gradually shift from pleasant situation to gloomish situation

     1.2 Complex Plot: In which the hero is unaware of his actions: this type of plot holds sudden reversal of situations and a (long) journey towards ignorance of incidents to awareness

2. Character: Characters make men choose the right and avoid the wrong, while explaining the moral purpose of the story.
   The central character of a story is called a protagonist.
3. Thought: Thoughts is what is possible and important under certain circumstances, in a story.
   For Greeks, these thoughts were important for them:
   1. Fate
   2. Man's position in the universe
   3. A sudden change of situations
   4. Importance of gods
4. Diction: Formation of drama in either poetic or prose form but in simple and lucid language
5. Music: Music helps to adorn the drama
6. Spectacle: A background which is used behind a performance to illustrate some scene

 

Qualities of Tragic Hero

1. Martia (the weakness or tragic flaw in the hero which leads him to his destruction or final tragic fate)
2. Noble Birth (belonging to royal class, the family of Greek gods or having achieved a victory after fighting bravely in the battlefield)
3. Essential goodness
4. Undeserved Downfall