The Poetics Of Aristotle Flashcards
Aim of comedy?
To portray characters as worse than we are
Commonality between epic poetry, tragedy, comedy, diathyramb, music of the flute, and lyre
All forms of imitation/ representation
Aim of tragedy?
To portray characters as better than we are
As to the manner in which an object may be imitated, specify the different ways that Aristotle mentions.
- narration and dialogue
- pure narration
- pure dialogue
Why contribution did Aeschylus and Sophocles make to drama?
Aeschylus- added 2nd character(created dialogue)
Sophocles- added 3rd character & painted scenery
Difference between epic poetry and tragedy?
Epic- narrative, length, one meter (no time limit)
Tragedy- 2 meters, dramatic (rather than narrative), best ones are in a single day
Aristoteles famous definition of tragedy?
Imitation of an action that is serious, complete of a certain magnitude embellished language each in its appropriate place in the form of action arousing pity & fear and their perception (catharsis)
What does Aristotle mean by pleasurable or embellished language?
A language that has embellishments of rhythm, melody, and song
Six elements of tragedy
- Plot-the action of the play
- Diction- how lines are said
- Character- must be consistent and played well
- Melody- musical accompaniment 5. Thought- what is said
6 spectacle- scenery/ costume/ special effect
Most important element
Fable
What does Aristotle mean by compete and entire?
Has a beginning, middle, end- no detours
What does Aristotle mean by a certain magnitude
Has a length that must be such as to present a whole easily comprehended by the memory
When is the fable one and entire (unified)?
The parts are so connected that if any of them be either transposed or taken away the whole will be destroyed or changed
Difference between the poet and historian
(Poetry is more philosophical and excellent), poetry is chiefly conversant about the truth; history about particular
Difference between a simple and a complex plot
Simple is when it is a catastrophe and is produced without either revolution or discovery: complicated when with one or both
What does Aristotle mean by revolution
A change into the reverse of what is suspected
What does Aristotle mean by discovery?
A change from the unknown to known happening between those characters whose happiness or unhappiness forms the catastrophe of the drama terminating in friendship or enmity
What is the best sort of discovery?
Is that wish is accompanied by a revolution, such as in the Oedipus
Name and explain the parts into which a tragic play is divided
- Prologue- that part of a tragedy which precedes the parody of the chorus
- Episode- all that part which is included between entire choral odds
- Exode- the going out of exit/non choral ode afterwards
- Chorus-
What kind of plots must be avoided in tragedy?
Prosperity to adversity should occur to a virtuous character and vice versa for a vitious character
What mind of plot is suitable for tragedy?
One that excited terror and pity
What type of incidents are apt to provoke the maximum terror in the audience
When there is a resemblance between the sufferer and ourselves
In how many says may the atrocious or tragic action be perpetrated?
- Knowingly and intentionally
- by those who are ignorant
- where a person upon the point of perpetrating, though ignorance, some dreadful deed, is prevented by a sudden discovery
