AristotleAristotle&&

Greek TragedyGreek Tragedy

Aristotle (384-322 BCE)Aristotle (384-322 BCE)

Great thinker, teacher, and writer of the Great thinker, teacher, and writer of the ancient worldancient worldStudied at Plato’s Academy for about 20 Studied at Plato’s Academy for about 20 yearsyearsWrote/lectured on logic, science, Wrote/lectured on logic, science, metaphysics, ethics, politics, literaturemetaphysics, ethics, politics, literature350 BCE wrote 350 BCE wrote PoeticsPoetics, in part as an , in part as an answer to Plato’s answer to Plato’s RepublicRepublic(Plato believed drama encouraged people (Plato believed drama encouraged people to wallow in emotion and endangered to wallow in emotion and endangered rationality and intellect; Aristotle strongly rationality and intellect; Aristotle strongly disagreed!)disagreed!)

What is drama?What is drama?

From the Greek word “dran” (to do)From the Greek word “dran” (to do)dramadrama is an imitation of action is an imitation of action

““First, the instinct of imitation is implanted in man First, the instinct of imitation is implanted in man from childhood, one difference between him and from childhood, one difference between him and other animals being that other animals being that he is the most imitative he is the most imitative of living creatures, and through imitation learns of living creatures, and through imitation learns his earliest lessons; and no less universal is the his earliest lessons; and no less universal is the pleasure felt in things imitatedpleasure felt in things imitated. We have . We have evidence of this in the facts of experience. evidence of this in the facts of experience. Objects which in themselves we view with pain, Objects which in themselves we view with pain, we delight to contemplate when reproduced with we delight to contemplate when reproduced with minute fidelity.” [minute fidelity.” [PoeticsPoetics, Chapter lV], Chapter lV]

What is tragedy?What is tragedy?From the Greek word “tragoidia” (song of goats)From the Greek word “tragoidia” (song of goats)originally referring to ritual sacrifice, as to originally referring to ritual sacrifice, as to Dionysus, god of fertilityDionysus, god of fertilitywhen things went wrong, there was a when things went wrong, there was a pharmakos, or “scapegoat”pharmakos, or “scapegoat”tragic plays replicated the idea of sacrifice for tragic plays replicated the idea of sacrifice for the good of a communitythe good of a community

According to Aristotle, a According to Aristotle, a tragedytragedy was a poetic was a poetic form in which an imitation of action form in which an imitation of action evoked pity evoked pity and fearand fear in the audience, leading to an in the audience, leading to an emotional emotional catharsiscatharsis (purification, cleansing). (purification, cleansing).(The audience shared in the hero’s suffering, or (The audience shared in the hero’s suffering, or pathospathos.).)

Tragic elementsTragic elements

According to Aristotle, a According to Aristotle, a tragedytragedy consisted of six elements:consisted of six elements: PlotPlot CharacterCharacter ThoughtThought (the idea or theme)(the idea or theme) DictionDiction (the language)(the language) MusicMusic (rhythm and sound of the (rhythm and sound of the

play)play) SpectacleSpectacle (costume, scenery, gestures, (costume, scenery, gestures,

voice)voice)

The tragic heroThe tragic hero

According to Aristotle, a According to Aristotle, a tragic hero tragic hero demonstrates:demonstrates: NoblenessNobleness or or wisdomwisdom by virtue of birth by virtue of birth Hamartia, anagnorisis, and peripeteiaHamartia, anagnorisis, and peripeteia

Other common qualities:Other common qualities: High social statusHigh social status (a king or leader, whose (a king or leader, whose

people suffer with him)people suffer with him) Subject to fate, but Subject to fate, but experiences that fate experiences that fate

through his own actionsthrough his own actions Emotional wound often paralleled by a Emotional wound often paralleled by a

physical woundphysical wound or or deathdeath

The tragic formThe tragic form

hamartiahamartia: an error on the part of the hero: an error on the part of the hero can translate to “missing the mark”can translate to “missing the mark” can be regarded as a mistake, a sin, a trespasscan be regarded as a mistake, a sin, a trespass often described as the result of an excess in behavior often described as the result of an excess in behavior

(i.e. hubris) or, in other words, a “tragic flaw” in (i.e. hubris) or, in other words, a “tragic flaw” in charactercharacter

peripeteiaperipeteia: reversal of fortune: reversal of fortune Aristotle explained that the reversal could be from bad Aristotle explained that the reversal could be from bad

to good fortune, or good to bad fortune, but he said to good fortune, or good to bad fortune, but he said the latter form was superior.the latter form was superior.

Leads to a complication of events that must later be Leads to a complication of events that must later be resolvedresolved

The tragic form, cont.The tragic form, cont.

anagnorisisanagnorisis: recognition of truth on the part of : recognition of truth on the part of the herothe hero often a truth about identityoften a truth about identity the hero can no longer ignore this truth, and he or she the hero can no longer ignore this truth, and he or she

may feel incapable of living with itmay feel incapable of living with it May produce love or hate between key charactersMay produce love or hate between key characters

catharsiscatharsis: purging of pity and fear: purging of pity and fear the positive social function of tragedy, according to the positive social function of tragedy, according to

AristotleAristotle an emotional lesson: perhaps the audience can avoid an emotional lesson: perhaps the audience can avoid

the tragic error, and help others to avoid itthe tragic error, and help others to avoid it

orchestra: circulardancing placefor chorus

theatron:“seeingplace”

parodos: aisle for chorus access

proskenion: small platform for elevation of actors

skene: buildingproviding backdrop andbackstage

A mask was called a persona.

The mask served both as a megaphone and as a symbol to distinguish the role.

Dramatic StructureDramatic Structure

Prologue (plural: prologos)Prologue (plural: prologos) Opening portion of the playOpening portion of the play Sets the scene and contains the Sets the scene and contains the expositionexposition

Parode (plural: parodos)Parode (plural: parodos) Entrance song of the chorusEntrance song of the chorus

Dramatic StructureDramatic StructureEpisodeEpisode Scene in the action of the dramaScene in the action of the drama Performed by the actors, not the chorusPerformed by the actors, not the chorus Alternate with the stasimaAlternate with the stasima Within a scene, there may be a Within a scene, there may be a kommoskommos,,

a lamentation between actor and chorusa lamentation between actor and chorus

Stasimon (plural: stasima)Stasimon (plural: stasima) Choral passage, sometimes referred to as odesChoral passage, sometimes referred to as odes Type of lyric poem, using dignified dictionType of lyric poem, using dignified diction May consist of May consist of strophesstrophes (as the chorus chanted and (as the chorus chanted and

danced in one direction) and danced in one direction) and antistrophes antistrophes (dancing (dancing in the opposite direction)in the opposite direction)

May have been accompanied by flute and/or May have been accompanied by flute and/or percussionpercussion

Dramatic StructureDramatic Structure

Exode (plural: exodos)Exode (plural: exodos) Concluding section of the tragedyConcluding section of the tragedy Ends with the chorus singing their final lines Ends with the chorus singing their final lines

as they exit.as they exit.