Applying aristotles theory of tragedy to macbeth this essay will look at aristotles six elements of tragedy they are plot, character, thought, diction, spectacle, and music. Tragedy and philosophy invites revisiting and debating from the basic notion of tragedy to the most. Hubris is a typical flaw in the personality of a character who enjoys a powerful position. Aristotles theory of poetics research assignment aristotle bases his theory of poetics on greek tragedy. The econtent uploaded on this website is on literary theory and criticism. Hubris excessive pride and disrespect for the natural order of things. Oedipus fits into the context of a flawed man, a man with given stature, and catharsis that propel him into a tragic hero. Action and hamartia in aristotles poetics philip tonner. Aristotles poetics essay tragic hero, heroines, the medea.
Aristotles work on aesthetics consists of the poetics, politics bk viii and rhetoric. Catharsis means cleansing of the heart from the harder passions by arousing the feelings of pity and fear through the sufferings and death of a tragic hero. In what follows we outline aristotles philosophy of tragedy in his poetics paying particular attention to his account of action and hamartia. At some point, aristotles original work was divided in two, each book written on a separate roll of papyrus. Often the tragic flaw is hubris, an excessive pride that causes the hero to ignore a divine warning or to break a moral law. Aristotles concept of catharsis catharsis refers to the effect of the tragedy on human heart. In it, aristotle offers an account of what he calls poetry a term that derives from a classical greek term.
It is most often associated with greek tragedy, although it is also used in christian theology. For example when a character has the facts wrong or doesnt know when to stop trying to get dangerous information. Complexity and pleasure in tragedy aristotle 384322 bc first, the instinct of imitation is implanted in man from childhood, one difference between him and other animals being that he is the most imitative of living creatures, and through imitation learns his earliest lessons. Aristotle defined hubris as shaming the victim, not because of anything that. Melani, 2009 he views that, tragedy is a form of drama exciting the emotions of pity and fear. A character suffering from hubris tries to cross normal human limits, and violates moral codes.
Tragic hero examples and definition of tragic hero. Aristotle, the greek philosopher, characterizes these plays or stories, in which the main character is a tragic hero, as tragedies. Apply aristotles theory of tragedy to shakespeares macbeth. He continu es, traged y is a form of drama exciting the emotions of p ity and fear. Shakespeare made changes in tragedy and also redefined the tragic hero but the basic rules were not changed. Aristotles poetics, perhaps the most fundamental theoretical treatise on tragedy. The book provides for new inroads into the world of the greek tragedy and its most outstanding students. He defines trag edy as the im itation o f an action that is serious and also as hav ing magnitude, complete in itself. Aristotles poetics the classic discussion of greek tragedy is aristotles poetics. Book ii of the iliad until book xviii when the feud ends. Explain, in your words, what he meant by plot then summarize that aspect of oedipus the king.
This view tends to give the flaw an ethical definition but relates it only to the. The tragic heros powerful wish to achieve some goal inevitably encounters limits, usually those of human frailty flaws in reason, hubris, society, the gods through. First, brief references to it 1448a 15, 1618, b 2427 in the early part of the poetics introduce us in a general way to aristotles thought on the. In book 10, plato revisits the question of poetry in more detail, with astonishing results. Aristotles rules of tragedy by jamari selders on prezi. In the poetics, aristotles famous study of greek dramatic art, aristotle 384322. Only the first part that which focuses on tragedy and epic as a quasidramatic art, given its definition in ch 23. The most fundamental change has been the rejection of aristotles dictum that true tragedy can only depict those with power and high status. An analysis of hamlet under aristotles theory on tragedy essay. Hubris describes a personality quality of extreme or foolish pride or dangerous overconfidence. He determines that tragedy, like all poetry, is a kind of imitation mimesis, but adds that it has a serious purpose and uses direct action rather than narrative to achieve its ends. The concept of catharsis provides aristotle with his reconciliation with plato, a means by which to satisfy the claims of both ethics and art. Aristotles ideas about tragedy were recorded in his book of literary theory titled poetics. Tragedy depicts the downfall of a noble hero or heroine, usually through some combination of hubris, fate, and the will of the gods.
This is straight lecture as it was a video left for a substitute teacher. Hubris consists in doing and saying things that cause shame to the victim simply for the pleasure of it. The main protagonist of the play, othello, is the perfect example of a tragic hero. The first aspect of aristotles definition of tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and. Aristotle s theory of a tragic hero 1097 words cram.
Aristotle and the tragic hero term paper warehouse. Kiefers book is the first work that takes this theory as its sole focus and reconstructs it systematically. A adult male doesnt go a hero until he can see the root of his ain downfall tragic heros who fit under aristotles word picture are known as aristotelian tragic heros and possess five specific features. Modern world and aristotles views on ideal tragic hero. Answer the questions set in class on aristotles theories of tragedy and greek drama. Aristotles definition of tragedy and tragic hero in poetics in chapter 6 of poetics aristotle embarks upon the most important subject of poetics the tragic drama. Shakespeare was influenced by aristotle s concept of a tragic hero and used aristotle s principles to create othello. The change needs to be logical and to have a clear cause, rather than be accidental. This also introduces pity, which is crucial in tragedy, as if the hero was perfect we would be outraged with their fate or not care especially because of their ideological. Aristotles rhetoric and similar works by others have, indeed, served as model texts for western scholars and students from antiquity to the present day read more. Aristotle indicates that the medium of tragedy is drama, not narrative. Tragic hero as defined by aristotle bainbridge high school.
After a sprint through aristotles theory of tragedy in the poetics and its famously ambiguous terms mimesis, catharsis, hamartia, golden achilles and yossarian, 2009, etc. This literary theory is used as a tool for analyzing greek tragedy. Aristotle on tragedy cliffsnotes study guides book. Get an answer for apply aristotles theory of tragedy to shakespeares macbeth. Get an answer for what is aristotles definition of tragedy explained in his poetics, and what examples of his definition can we see in literature. Aristotles theory of knowledge continuum studies in. Hubris examples and definition of hubris literary devices. From plato to marx, aristotle to hume, kant to danto, historys great minds have theorized about the nature of art, testing the depths of human understanding. And in the following chapters he discusses the nature of tragedy and its constituent parts such as plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle and song. Pdf the idea of attaching moral depravity to the fall of the tragic heroes according to aristotle, those. Iop theory of tragedy according to aristotle flashcards. As the great period of athenian drama drew to an end at the beginning of the 4th century bce, athenian philosophers began to analyze its content and formulate its structure. Full list of literary devices grammatical terms poem analysis book literary analysis.
Upon completing the play oedipus the king by sophocles, summarize the play according to aristotles six elements of tragedy plot, characters, diction, thought, spectacle, melody. It has been suggested that because the tragic heros suffering is greater than his offense, the audience feels pity. In it, he has a great deal to say about the structure, purpose, and intended effect of tragedy. It definitely meets the five main criteria for a tragedy. This website is the outcome of the project undertaken at department of english, maharaja krishnakumarsinhji bhavnagar university bhavnagar gujarat. Complexity and pleasure in tragedy essay aristotles poetics. At the same time, it also requires context, since the genres of literature have expanded and evolved in so many ways. Aristotles theory of tragedy 1 a hamartia may be simply an intellectual mistake or an error in judgement. What is aristotles definition of tragedy explained in his. He defines tragedy as the imitation of an action that is serious and also as having magnitude, complete in itself. Critical essay aristotle on tragedy in the poetics, aristotles famous study of greek dramatic art, aristotle 384322 b. This theory concerns what is knowledge, what we can know, and how we can do so. A book seeks to clarify aristotles theory of tragedy, drawing from some of the archetypal tragic heroes of western civilization.
An analysis of hamlet under aristotles theory on tragedy aristotle, as a world famous philosopher, gives a clear definition of tragedy in his influential masterpiece poetics, a wellknown greek technical handbook of. A number of scholars take the view that, short of the discovery of a lost second book of the poetics, aristotles theory of comedy will remain forever a. The aim of tragedy, aristotle writes, is to bring about a catharsis of the spectators. Oedipus the king by sophocles works cited not included oedipus the king is an excellent example of aristotles theory of tragedy. A change in fortune should come about as a direct result of an action motivated by the protagonists tragic flaw. Most of his tragedies were based on aristotles views and concept of ideal tragic hero. An aristotelian tragic hero must possess specific characteristics, five of which are below2.
Oedipus the king an aristotles tragedy essay 633 words 3 pages. So unpoetic a soul as aristotle s has no business speaking about such a topic, much less telling poets how to go about their business. Aristotles poetics the classic discussion of greek tragedy is aristotle s poetics. Aristotle, the greek philosopher, characterizes these plays or stories, in which the main. Aristotle and the tragic hero aristotles ideas about tragedy were recorded in his book of literary theory titled poetics.
This video explains aristotles theory of tragedy from poetics. The drama oedipus the king by sophocles could be considered a tragedy and oedipus considered a tragic hero by aristotles definition, for it follows all five steps. Aristotles rules of tragedy heros hubris an excessive pride that causes the hero to ignore a divine warning or to break a moral law. The play has the perfect aristotelian tragic plot consisting of paripeteia, anagnorisis and. Aristotles definition of tragedy and tragic hero in. Aristotle treats the principles of creative writing in general, but his primary focus is on tragedy it is likely that a parallel treatment of comedy has been lost. These contributory essentials are the makings of sublime art which arouses pity and fear in the audience leading to a purging of emotions, which results in a state of emotional fulfillment.
Aristotles views on ideal tragic hero are rejected in modern times. Your summary should begin by introducing the element according to aristotles definition. Aristotle s theory of the tragic hero essay 1899 words. Tragedy depicts the downfall of a noble hero or heroine, usually through some combination of hubris excessive pride or selfconfidence, fate, and the will of the gods. Here, the hero confronts his downfall whether due to fate, or by his own mistake, or any other social reason. Tragedy is the imitation of an action mimesis according to the law of probability or necessity.
Aristotles definition of tragedy is an imitation of a complete action that is serious and important and artistically ornamented with several contributing elements. The terms hamartia and hubris should become basic tools of your critical apparatus. Thomas kiefer breaks through this cloud of interpretation and provides an organized account of one key part of aristotles philosophy, namely his theory of knowledge. This project was sponsored by mhrd, new delhi under nmeict sakshat initiatives for econtent development. Examples of hubris are found in major characters of tragic plays. Like the politics, aristotles poetics continues to remain a staple of academic study. Aristotles views on ideal tragic hero ideal tragic hero. Definition, usage and a list of tragic hero examples in literature.
Comedy and character to aristotle, who in the rhetoric distinguished between ethos natural bent, disposition, or moral. Including his structure of complication and denouement, and to the principles of protagonist, antagonist, nemesis, hubris, peripety and catharsis and how they apply. Throughout the ages philosophers have wrestled with the notion of art at every possible level. Crucial to this definition are the ancient greek concepts of honour. William shakespeare attempted to create an aristotelian tragedy play with a tragic hero and succeeded in othello. Aristotle poetics a tragic hero according aristotles poetics, is an ideal noble man with a flaw. Oedipus the king the greek drama oedipus is clearly a aristotles tragedy. Learn aristotle theory with free interactive flashcards.