aristotlian tragedy Flashcards
(22 cards)
why does he believe the audience feel free in a tragedy
they can envision themselves within a cause and effect chain
what is the first principle of tragedy
plot
how is plot defined
the arrangement of the incidents
which tragedies are superior to others due to plot
those where the outcome depends on a tightly constructed cause and effect chain rather than on the personality of the protagonist
what is the role of the beginning (incentive moment) of the plot
to start the cause and effect chain but not be dependent on anything outside the play
what is the role of the middle (climax) of the plot
caused by earlier incidents and cause the following incidents
what is the role of the end (resolution) of the plot
caused by preceding events
what is the cause and effect chain leading from the incentive moment to the climax
the tying up (desis), complication
what is the cause and effect chain from the climax to the resolution
unravelling (lusis)
why does he view the worst plots as ‘episodic’
episodes, acts succeed one another without probable or necessary sequence
how should poets treat coincidence
avoid it unless it contains an air of design
why should a plot be universal and significant
poet is more able to catch and hold the emotions of the audience
what does he believe complex plots contain
both reversal of intention (peripeteia) and recognition (anagnorisis)
how does peripeteia occur
when a character produces an effect opposite to that which he intended to produce leading to a point of no return
what is anagnorisis
a change from ignorance to knowledge either from self insight or an understanding of external factors
how does the combination of anagnorisis and peripeteia lead to the final scene of suffering
combine as part of C+E chain , this creates the catastrophe leading to final scene of suffering
what should the protagonist be
renowned and prosperous so his change of fortune can be from good to bad
how does he believe character causes pathos in the reader
pity is aroused by unmerited misfortune, fear by the misfortune of a man like ourselves
why does he believe the protagonist will bring about his own demise
not because he is sinful or morally weak but because he does not know enough
what does he say about characters being ‘good or fine’
relates it to moral purpose relative to class ‘ even a woman may be good, also a slave, though the woman may be said to be an inferior being and the slave worthless’
what else must be a character be
fitness of character (true to type), true to life (realistic), consistency (true to themselves), necessary or probable(logically constructed), true to life and yet more beautiful
how does a reader take pleasure or satisfaction from a tragedy
the aesthetic pleasure one gets from contemplating the pity and fear that are aroused from an intricately constructed tragedy
