Aristotle and Greek Drama Fill in the Blank

Question 1

Give an approximate date for Aristotle

Answer 1

330 BC

Question 2

The work by Aristotle studied in class is titled

Answer 2

The Poetics

Question 3

List three common means for poetry as a whole:

Answer 3

1. Language
2. Rhythm
3. Harmony

Question 4

List three types of characters (agents):

Answer 4

1. Higher than average (idealism)
2. Average (realism)
3. Lower than average (caricature)

Question 5

Describe the difference in manner between epic and drama

Answer 5

Epic contains both narrative and speeches-drama is entirely acted

Question 6

List the two origins of poetry

Answer 6

1. Human instinct to imitate
2. Human pleasure in observation of imitation

Question 7

Identify the origins of tragedy and list 4 stages in its growth:

Answer 7

1. Improvisations-imitation
2. Dithyrambs- chorus of 50 priests of god Dionysus
3. Thespis- first actor
4. Aeschylus- playwright- introduces second actor, reduces choir to 18
5. Sophocles- playwright- 3rd actor, scenery, plurality of episodes, chorus 12

Question 8

Define tragedy

Answer 8

imitation of an action that is serious and also as having magnitude, complete in itself, in language with pleasurable accessories, in dramatic not narrative form with incidents arousing pity and fear to accomplish the catharsis of such emotions

Question 9

List the 6 parts of every tragedy

Answer 9

1. Plot
2. Characters
3. Diction
4. Thought
5. Spectacle
6. Melody

Question 10

The most important of the six parts

Answer 10

Plot

Question 11

List the three parts this part must have

Answer 11

Beginning, middle, and end

Question 12

Name the one Unity Aristotle insists on

Answer 12

Unity of Action- one complete action

Question 13

Define the distinction between the historian and the poet

Answer 13

Historian describes what has been; poet describes what might be

Question 14

Define periphery and give a specific example from Oedipus Rex

Answer 14

Reversal of hero’s fortunes

Question 15

Define discovery and give a specific example of Oedipus Rex

Answer 15

Change from ignorance to knowledge, love to hate

Question 16

Describe what the regain hero is and is not to produce tragic effect

Answer 16

1. is a good man whose misfortune result of his error in judgment
2. is not a good man passing from happiness to misery
3. is not a bad man passing from misery to happiness
4. is not an extremely bad man falling from happiness to misery

Question 17

Identify the tragic pleasure or tragic effect

Answer 17

Pity and fear aroused in the audience

Question 18

Define complication

Answer 18

All the precedes the crisis - change in hero’s fortunes

Question 19

Define denouement

Answer 19

Unravelling- all that follows crises to the end

Question 20

Which is preferable- a likely impossibility or an uncovering possibility

Answer 20

Likely impossibility

Question 21

Explain why Aristotle views tragedy superior to the epic even though he views.. the structure of the Homeric poems… as perfect as can be….

Answer 21

Tragedy has more- music and spectacle, more concentrated and effective greater unity.