Aristotle’s Poetics: Six Part of Tragedy

Topic: Aristotle’s Poetics: Six Part of Tragedy

Paper: 3

Paper name: Literary Theory & Criticism

Name: Patel Kinjal

Roll No: 19

Class: M.A.1 Sem-1

Year: 2013

Submitted To: Department of English M.K. Bhavnagar University

INTRODUCTIONS:

Aristotle was born at Stagira in Chalcidice.  He thought Alexander about three years. He found a school called lyceum. He devoted his life on teaching and lecturing to Scholars on a variety of subjects.

ARISTOTLE ON EPIC AND TRAGEDY :-

Accordingly to Aristotle epic and tragedy have the same forms. Epic can be full of complexity. Epic of recognition can emphasis character or suffering. Because epic is in the other manner of imitation. Epic lack on form found in the tragedy the tragedy of spectacle. Although and diction do not produce forms of tragedy or epic, both are important to epic as they are to tragedy. Aristotle gives the example of one of the greatest poet of Greek epic, Homer. He has cited the prime example of epic, artistry. If we talk about Iliad we find Iliad to be simple and full of suffering. The plot of Iliad is very simple and doesn’t need much explanation. Its argument is ‘the wrath of Achilles’. Having been aroused by the death of his friend Patroclus’, Achilles sets out consciously to ruin Hector. He succeeds in destroying Hector by the end of poem. Although some of the episodes are just added for the variation, which are outside the plot. Aristotle describe Iliad as an ‘epic’ of suffering from the starting point, the emphasis is on the ‘tragic dead’ the is the end of the plot – the murdering of Hector  and  this dead is an episodes of suffering. ‘The Odyssey’ on the other hand, is an epic of recognition and of character. But I can be said that Odyssey is not both these forms simultaneously. One can see that the plot of odyssey is complex one. It involves several recognition of Ulysses by Telemachus the Neat herd, the nurse and eventually the Suitors. In this sense there is as Aristotle remarks,  ‘recognition throughout’ – The parts of Odyssey emphasizing character, however, are ‘outside the plot’. The most important such ‘part’ tale has on episodic plot that is simple in form and fortunate in its movement the type of plot that Aristotle seems to have in mind for the ‘tragedy of character’. Having classified Homer’s epics, Aristotle further clarifies that Homer outstrips all other in diction and thought.   

Aristotle’s preference for tragedy:-

After considering various differences between ‘epic and tragedy’, the question a raised of superiority. Is ‘Epic’ better or ‘Tragedy’, Aristotle favored. In ‘poetics’ he discusses this question of length he it’s see it in his own words. If the more refined art is lighten and the more refined in every case is that which appeals to the better sort of audiences. The art which imitates anything and everything is manifestly most unrefined. Tragic art stands to epic in the same relation as the younger to the older actors. So we are told that epic poetry is addressed to a cultivated audience. Who do not need jester, tragedy to an inferior public. Being then unrefined it is evidently lower of the two tragedy like epic poetry produced its effect even without action ; it reveals its power by more reading. Then in all other respects tragedy is superior if this fault is not inherent in it.

Accordingly to Aristotle tragedy is superior to epic because beside having all the elements of epic. It also has some additional elements tragedy has better unit whole  where as many incidences are scattered in epic. There are many stories in stories in epic. Tragedy ends more perfectly then epic and so it is better than epic tragedy keeps your concentration as its of less hours while epic gives freedom to your imagination to render while reading.

Aristotle Poetics : Six Parts of Tragedy:-

·        Nature and function of tragedy

·        Six part of tragedy

-        Plot

-        Thought

-        Character

-        Diction

-        Melody / Songs

-        Spectacle

·        Plot that meet this criterion will have the following qualities.

Nature and function of tragedy:-

Aristotle provides a definition of tragedy that we can break up into seven parts:

1.     It involves mimesis

2.     It is serious

3.     The action is complete and magnitude

4.     It is mode up of language with the “ aesthetic ornaments” of rhythm and harmony.

5.     These aesthetic ornaments are not used uniformly throughout by are introduced in separate parts of the work, so that, for instance some bits are spoken in verse and other bits are sung.

6.     It is performed rather than narrated.

7.     It arouses the emotions of pity and fear and accomplishes a catharsis.

Aristotle asserts that any tragedy can be divided into six parts and that every tragedy is made up of these six parts with nothing else besides.

Plot:-

Plot or myths which is the harmonious combination of incidents and actions in the story. Aristotle argues that, among these six the plot is the most important. To the question whether plot makes a tragedy or character. Aristotle argues that without action there cannot be tragedy at the same time characters are required to be action. The ends we pursue in life. Our happiness and our misery all take the form of action. Tragedy is written not eerily to imitate man but to imitate man in action.

“ the way in which the action works itself out, the whole casual chain which leads to the final outcome” – David Daises.

Plot is the “ first principle “, the most important feature of tragedy.

-        The soul of tragedy

Aristotle defines plot as “ the harmonious arrangements of the incidents”. Tragedy is an imitation not of human beings but of action and life of happiness and misery.

Men owe their qualities to their characters, but it is in their action that they are happy or the reverse. And so the stage figures do not act in order to represent their character, they include their character for the same of their actions.  – David Douches

Character is Plot, Plot is character – F. Scott Fitzeraland.

Thought:-

Thought is third in importance and is found “ where something is proved to e or not to be or not be or a general maxim is enunciated. Aristotle says little about thoughts and most of what he has to say is associated with how speeches should reveal character. The plot and characters are not important on their own account. There is the central thought in the play towards which they point. A play embodies the vision or the ideas of the play right. They are expressed – thought the characters and their speeches. It most be noted that to ancient Greeks, literature was good only if it target some moral truth. There were differences among them as to what was truth. But there was unanimity in that the function of literature was to teach among with pleasing.

-        “Thought, on the other hands is shown in all they say she proving or disproving some particulars point or enunciating some universal position.”   - Aristotle.

Character:-

Aristotle disqualifies two types of character:

-        Purely virtuous

-        Thoroughly bad

Thus, he is man with following attributes. He should be a man of  mixed character, nighter - blameless nor absolutely depraved. He misfortune should follow from some error or flaw of character. Short of moral taint. He must fall from height of prospering and glory. Here  I remember one though which is related to character it’s written by Charly Chaplin.

-        “A man’s true character come out when he’s drunk.”

Diction :

Diction is the forth part. We can say that about the diction that is :

-        “ The expression of the meaning in works.”

Which are proper and appropriate to the plot, characters, and end of the tragedy. It is also the choice of words to embellish – language with beautiful ornaments. In this category. Aristotle discussed the stylistic elements of tragedy, he is particularly interested in metaphors. “ But the greatest thing by far is to have a command of metaphors. It is the mark of genius, for to make good metaphors implies an eye for resemblances’. We can say in the modern sense it means ‘choice of words’. He meant by it use of various kinds of verses fit for evoking emotions which the poet wanted to evoke.

Song or Melody:

Song or melody, is fifth part and is the musical element of the chorus. Aristotle argues that the chorus should be fully integrated in to the play like an actor, choral, songs lyrical dialogues should not be “mere interludes”. But should contribute to the unit of the plot. Choral odes / songs lyrical dialogues were singular feature of the Greek tragedy. Here I remember one thought on the melody which is written by Norah Jones:

-        I really love thing with melody.”

Spectacle:

Spectacle is last part for it is least connected with literature. “the production of spectacular effect depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet. All  this has been the discussion of  Aristotle’s concept of tragedy.  But the points discussed here apply to the representational literature in general. In every king of representational literature plot has its own important place, characters are bound to be there thought they may be of different types, it will have a definite central thought expressed in appropriate diction and techniques finally. It will have its own end or purpose in place of catharsis. Similarly they have their own thought way of presentation and spectacle.

Plot that meet this criterion will have the following qualities:

The plot must be “ a whole” with beginning, middle and end. The beginning, called by modern critics the incentive moment, must start the cause and – effect chain but not be – dependent on anything outside the compass of the play. The middle or climax must be caused by earlier incidents and itself  cause the incidents that follow it. The end or resolution, must be caused by the preceding events but not lead to other incidents outside, the compass of the play. The plot must be “complete” having “ unity of action “ (dues exmachina). The plot must be “of a certain magnitude “both quantitatively and qualitatively. Aristotle argues that plots should not be too brief the more incidents and themes that the playwright can bring together is an organic unity, the grater the artistic value and richness of the play. The plot may be either simple or complex although complex is better. Simple plots have only a “change of fortune”. Complex plots have both “reversal of intention” and “recognition” connected with the catastrophe. Aristotle goes to the extent of saying that “ without action there con not be a tragedy “ there may be without character. Aristotle argues that if you put together group of speeches will not make a tragedy though the reading and performing may be entertaining. Greek plays – man doomed before his birth – character is not destiny. Play without good plot is play without action – nothing happens – there would be no drama at all.

Conclusion:

Accordingly to Aristotle plot is the most important of the six part of tragedy. He is the completeness of the plot, character is the second important part of the tragedy. If a tragedy’s perfect than character plays supporting role of the plot. The third important part of the tragedy is thought. Thought deals with vision or the ideas of the playwright.  The fortune number is given to the diction. Diction is the expression of the meaning of the words linked to plot, character and the end. The fifth important part of tragedy is Sony. This part place and important role and arresting the attention of the audience. The art that is the six part is spectacles. It deals with the presentation technique. If all parts are given proper justice the drama would be best.

Sources: Net and reference book