Tragedy and the Tragic Hero

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Tragedy and the Tragic Hero

• Aristotles View

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Who is Aristotle?

• Aristotle was a Greek thinker/philosopher
• He lived 384-322 B.C.
• He was a student of Plato, though he eventually
  opposed Platos teachings.
• He tutored Alexander the Great

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Aristotles Elements of Tragedy1. Plot

• According to Aristotle, plot is the most
  important element of tragedy.
• Tragedy show rather than tells it is drama
  rather than narrative.
• There must be a beginning, middle and end
  (resolution)
• The plot may be simple where there is a simple
  change of fortune for the hero.
• Or they may be complex where they also include
• reversal of intention (when a character produces
  an effect opposite of what he/she intended)
• recognition connected with catastrophe (a change
  from ignorance to knowledge something is brought
  to light).

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2. Character

• The hero should be renowned and prosperous, so
  his change of fortune goes from great to
  terrible.
• Also, he should be a basically good person. No
  one feels pity or fear by seeing bad things
  happen to a bad person.
• This catastrophe comes as a result of his
  harmartia, or tragic flaw or tragic mistake.
• The hero brings catastrophe upon himself.
• There is a debate whether is harmartia comes from
  vice or sin in the character or whether it is
  simply because he does not have adequate
  knowledge, strength, or wisdom

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3. Thought

• Where something is proved to be or not to be
• The tragedy has a theme or message.

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4. Diction

• The expression in the meaning of in words
• True tragedies should use metaphor and imagery,
  which are chief among other stylistic elements he
  mentions.

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5. Song

• A true tragedy must have music and song,
  specifically a chorus.

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6. Spectacle

• Spectacle is last on Aristotles list of
  important elements in a tragedy.
• Spectacle has to do with the special effects of
  a tragedy.
• It can include aspects such as props,
  machination, costumes, etc.
• Spectacle is last because the superior poets rely
  on the words and structure of the play to
  stimulate and entertain the viewer.

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One Final Over-arching Elementkatharsis

• Katharsis means purgation or cleansing.
• Tragedy arouses the emotions of pity and fear in
  order to purge away their excess and reduce
  them to healthy levels within. It helps the
  viewer get rid of his or her own such feelings.
• Aristotle also speaks of the pleasure that we
  experience from contemplating pity and fear. For
  some reason, we enjoy suffering along with a
  character.

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Journal

• What do you think is Oedipus tragic flaw?
• Where did Oedipus go wrong? Is he responsible in
  any way for what has happened to him? If yes,
  explain how he us responsible.
• If no, then who or what is responsible for what
  has happened to him. Explain.