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GREEK TRAGEDY. Aristotle - Poetics. Aristotle. Aristotle. Greek philosopher Student of Plato Teacher of Alexander the Great Writings include many topics: physics, logic, rhetoric, politics, and theatre (poetics – literature) His ideas shaped medieval and Renaissance thought.
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GREEK TRAGEDY Aristotle - Poetics
Aristotle • Greek philosopher • Student of Plato • Teacher of Alexander the Great • Writings include many topics: physics, logic, rhetoric, politics, and theatre (poetics – literature) • His ideas shaped medieval and Renaissance thought
Found in Poetics Tragedy is the “imitation of an action that is serious or the imitation of an action of a higher type.” Considers the noble Considered highest form of literature. Should arouse pity and fear – aim of tragedy Should be instructive” Learn from other’s mistakes Concept of Tragedy
“…the imitation of an action of a lower type.” Considered inferior to tragedy Exploits of averagepeople, not heads of state (classical sense) From Aristotle to Seinfeld, laugh at the incongruous, the ugly What makes us laugh? Comedy
Tragedy is for the boardroom or the battlefield Tragedy is ennobling (makes us stronger). I suffer; therefore, I am. Comedy is for the bathroom or the bedroom (human sexuality) Types include banter slapstick the mixup malapropisms – “It was beyond my apprehension.” “That was a real cliff dweller.” Comedy vs. Tragedy
Elements of Tragedy • 1. Reversal – someone of great stature takes a fall (reversal of fortune) • 2. Flaw – in the Greek – harmartia-fall is due to an inherent problem in character; for Greeks this was commonly HUBRIS
Elements of Tragedy, con’t. • 3. Suffering – I suffer; therefore I am. • 4. Discovery – through suffering, the character finds out the error of his ways, yet it is too late to change events (Know thyself.)
5. Catharsis – a cleansing of emotion, a purgation, a purification for the audience. Audience is able to identify with tragic character. Vows never to commit such an act. A good cry Elements of Tragedy
End of action; the problem has been solved; all wrongs have been righted. Tragic Elements- 6. Resolution
Resolution • Also called the denouement • The exodus • In Sophocles, the resolution involves making peace with the gods.