Diction/Song/Spectacle

By: Desiree Altmann and Michael Kim Diction/Song/Spectacle

Diction • Fourth in importance • Elaborates the action, the character and the theme but it does not contributes theme • “the expression of the meaning in words” • Proper: generally used by people • Appropriate to plot • Appropriate to characters • Appropriate to end of tragedy

Diction • Aristotle discusses the style of tragedy, favoring metaphors • Aristotle believed it was a mark of genius, if one could create a good metaphor • Essence both in verse and prose

Diction • To create a clean diction that is distant from common one can use: • Lengthening • Contraction • Altering words

Diction • Newly-coined words are words that have never been used in local areas, but used and adopted by the poet • Word is lengthened when its own vowel is exchanged for a longer one or when a syllable is inserted • Word is contracted when some part of it is removed • Altered word is a word in which part of it its left unchanged and the other part recast • Nouns can be masculine, feminine or neutral

Diction • A clear style is one that uses only current and proper words • Riddle: consists of metaphors • Jargon: consists of strange or rare words • The essence of riddle is to express true facts under impossible combinations

Diction • Critics hold poets to use the correct way of such thing • If not their poetry would sound grotesque and ludicrous • Poets need moderation in lengthening, contraction and altering words • Strange words, metaphors or even any similar mode of expression can replace a common, ordinary, proper term to make it more attractive • But if such are not used well they may lead to catastrophe

Diction • Metaphors are used in iambic • Strange or rare words are use in heroic poetry

Example for diction • "nun de m'eonoligostekaioutidanoskaiaeikes, "Yet a small man, worthless and unseemly, "the difference will be felt if we substitute the common words, "nun de m'eonmikrostekaiasthenikoskaiaeides. "Yet a little fellow, weak and ugly. "

Song • Fifth in importance • Musical element of the chorus • Aristotle thinks that the chorus should be fully integrated in the play; like an actor • Should contribute to the plot • Has diction and thought

Song • Thought: • Includes every effect which has to be produced • Proof: excitation of the feelings • Refutation: suggestion of importance or its opposite • Must have same points of view as the dramatic speeches when it what’s to evoke feelings • Incidents should speak for themselves without verbal exposition • Effects should be produced be the speaker

Song • Diction: • Can be a command • A prayer • A statement • A threat • A question • An answer, and so forth • Used to tell what to do or what not to do

Example for Song • Homer by Protagoras- “Sing, goddess, of the wrath,” he gives a command under the idea that he utters a prayer in the song.

Spectacle • Last of importance and least connected with literature • “the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet.” • own emotional attraction and least connected with the art of poetry.

Spectacle • Aristotle • says that superior poets rely more on the inner structure of the play than fear and pity

Spectacle • Tragedy • Apart from representation and actors • People who use spectacular means that includes monstrous are a purpose to Tragedy

Spectacle • Production of Spectacular Effects depends on more on the art of the stage than the poet. • Fear and Pity 1. Made by spectacular means 2. Makes a superior poet 3. incidents must happen between friends or enemies

Spectacle • Skillful handling • done with consciously and knowledge • Falling within the action • 1 case= to be about to act with knowledge of the persons and then not to act • 2 case= doing an irreparable deed by ignorance and discover before it’s done.

Example for Spectacle • An unnecessary action done on stage. • Example: • Shakespeare thought that spectacle was needed to be more entertaining like the dramatic end in Romeo and Juliet

Diction/Song/Spectacle