Study Material: Tragedy
1. Definition of Tragedy
- Tragedy is a serious literary work (often a play) that deals with important themes such as fate, suffering, and human frailty, ending in the downfall of the main character.
Aristotle’s Classic Definition (from Poetics):
“Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament; in the form of action, not narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation (catharsis) of these emotions.”
2. Origin and Evolution
| Stage | Key Facts |
| Ancient Greece | Originated in Athens; festivals honoring Dionysus; Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides |
| Ancient Rome | Adapted by Seneca |
| Medieval/Renaissance | Morality plays, Elizabethan tragedy (Shakespeare, Marlowe) |
| Modern | Arthur Miller, Eugene O’Neill, Henrik Ibsen |
3. Key Features of Tragedy
- Serious Theme: Deals with important questions of life, fate, justice, and human suffering.
- Tragic Hero: Protagonist of noble birth or high standing, not entirely good or evil.
- Hamartia: The tragic flaw or error in judgment leading to the hero’s downfall.
- Catharsis: Purging of emotions (pity and fear) in the audience.
- Conflict: Between the hero and forces (fate, society, self).
- Downfall and Suffering: Ends in disaster or death, but provides profound insights.
4. Key Terms to Know
| Term | Meaning |
| Hamartia | Tragic flaw (error or weakness) |
| Hubris | Excessive pride/arrogance |
| Catharsis | Emotional cleansing for the audience |
| Peripeteia | Reversal of fortune |
| Anagnorisis | Recognition or discovery |
| Nemesis | Inevitable fate or retribution |
5. Major Tragic Playwrights & Works
| Playwright | Notable Works |
| Aeschylus | Agamemnon, Prometheus Bound |
| Sophocles | Oedipus Rex, Antigone |
| Euripides | Medea, The Bacchae |
| William Shakespeare | Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear |
| Arthur Miller | Death of a Salesman |
| Henrik Ibsen | A Doll’s House, Ghosts |
| Eugene O’Neill | Long Day’s Journey Into Night |
6. Structure of a Tragedy (Greek & Shakespearean)
- Exposition: Introduction of setting, characters, conflict
- Rising Action: Development of conflict
- Climax: Turning point (peripeteia/anagnorisis)
- Falling Action: Consequences of the climax
- Catastrophe: Final downfall and resolution
7. Comparing Greek and Shakespearean Tragedy
| Aspect | Greek Tragedy | Shakespearean Tragedy |
| Chorus | Important | Less important |
| Fate | Central | Fate and free will both |
| Hero | Nobility, flaw | Mixed, often more complex |
| Supernatural | Rare | Common (ghosts, witches) |
Aristotle’s Concept of Tragedy
(From Poetics)
1. Introduction
Aristotle (384–322 BCE), the Greek philosopher, presented the first systematic theory of tragedy in his seminal work, Poetics. His analysis shaped Western literary criticism and remains a foundation for understanding tragedy in drama.
2. Definition of Tragedy
Aristotle defines tragedy as:
“Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation (catharsis) of these emotions.”
3. Essential Features of Tragedy
| Feature | Aristotle’s View |
| Imitation (Mimesis) | Tragedy is not a real action but an artistic imitation of serious events. |
| Serious Action | The subject matter is grave and important. |
| Completeness | The plot must be whole, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. |
| Magnitude | The action should be of considerable significance (not trivial). |
| Embellished Language | The play uses poetic and artistic language, including song and spectacle. |
| Action, Not Narrative | Tragedy shows events enacted on stage, not merely told. |
| Catharsis | It arouses pity and fear, leading to emotional purification for the audience. |
4. Six Elements of Tragedy
According to Aristotle, these are the six essential components, ranked by importance:
| Element | Description |
| Plot (Mythos) | The arrangement of incidents; most important, as action drives the play. |
| Character (Ethos) | The moral and ethical qualities of the protagonist and other characters. |
| Thought (Dianoia) | The themes, messages, and ideas expressed through the play. |
| Diction (Lexis) | The choice of language and style. |
| Melody (Melos) | Musical elements (chorus, songs, rhythm). |
| Spectacle (Opsis) | Visual effects and staging; least important, as drama can stand without it. |
5. Structure of the Ideal Tragic Plot
Aristotle outlined the ideal structure:
- Unity of Plot: Events must be logically connected, following the principle of cause and effect.
- Peripeteia (Reversal): A sudden change in the protagonist’s situation, often from good fortune to bad.
- Anagnorisis (Recognition): A moment when the hero realizes a crucial truth about themselves or their fate.
- Catastrophe: The final resolution, usually involving the hero’s downfall or death.
6. The Tragic Hero
- Noble Stature: The protagonist is noble or holds a high position.
- Hamartia (Tragic Flaw): The hero’s error in judgment or inherent flaw leads to downfall.
- Downfall is Partly Self-inflicted: The tragedy is not pure accident; the hero’s actions contribute to the outcome.
- Evokes Pity and Fear: The audience pities the hero’s fate and fears a similar outcome for themselves.
7. Catharsis
- Meaning: Emotional purgation or purification experienced by the audience.
- Process: Through witnessing the tragic events, the audience’s feelings of pity and fear are cleansed.
- Significance: Tragedy provides moral and psychological relief.
8. Example: Oedipus Rex
Aristotle considered Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex the perfect tragedy because:
- The plot is tightly constructed with peripeteia and anagnorisis.
- Oedipus is a noble character with a tragic flaw (unintentional wrongdoing).
- The play evokes deep pity and fear, leading to catharsis.
9. Aristotle vs. Later Tragedies
- Greek vs. Shakespearean: Aristotle’s model is based on Greek drama. Later tragedies (like Shakespeare’s) may include subplots, more complex characters, and supernatural elements, but Aristotle’s core concepts remain relevant.
10. Summary Table
| Point | Aristotle’s Tragedy |
| Nature | Imitation of serious, complete action |
| Elements | Plot, Character, Thought, Diction, Melody, Spectacle |
| Hero | Noble, flawed (hamartia), suffers downfall |
| Structure | Unity, peripeteia, anagnorisis, catastrophe |
| Purpose | Arouse pity and fear, achieve catharsis |
11. Conclusion
Aristotle’s concept of tragedy emphasizes the importance of a well-structured plot, a noble but flawed hero, and the emotional and ethical impact on the audience. His theory remains a cornerstone for analyzing tragic drama in literature.
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