The Elements of Tragedy According to Aristotles Poetics

The Elements of Tragedy According to Aristotle’s Poetics English

General Def: Tragedy • An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime or natural disaster • Ex: The train wreck was a tragedy that killed 49 people. D. Vega, SWHS

Literary Def: Tragedy • A play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of a once respected hero. By the end of the piece, you want the hero to fall or perish. D. Vega, SWHS

Essential Elements Tragedy: a dramatic telling of a serious story in which a tragic hero (protagonist) is, through his or her own faults, brought to a catastrophe (destruction) Essential Elements of Tragedy: • It is dramatic (must be acted out). • It is serious. • The tragic hero meets with total defeat that is catastrophic and fitting. • The defeat results from flaws in the tragic hero. D. Vega, SWHS

Essential Elements Cont. Essential Element of Shakespearean/Classical: • The hero must be superior in status or in virtue, a person of mental and moral stature. This is necessary so that the hero’s catastrophe, caused by his own tragic flaw, may be meaningful. The hero moves from “high estate” to “low estate”. Fall 2008, 12 LAW D. Vega, SWHS

Essential Elements Cont. • Our Discussion: • Status – high (everyone recognizes the name, abilities, wealth, etc. ) • Flaw – a defect, imperfection, or weakness in the character that leads to a downfall • Fall – the character falls from his lofty position (often in societal status before death) Fall 2008, 12 LAW D. Vega, SWHS

Terms of Tragedy • HAMARTIA - (flaw or judgment of error in the tragic hero) • HUBRIS - pride (the most common hamartia) • CATHARSIS- a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension (the “good cry”, where the audience feels better, relief) Fall 2008, 12 LAW D. Vega, SWHS

Modern Tragic Heroes • • O. J. Simpson President Clinton Tiger Woods Lindsay Lohan Martha Stewart Joe Paterno Mike Tyson Chris Brown Fall 2008, 12 LAW D. Vega, SWHS Michael Vick Michael Jackson Justin Beiber Bill Cosby Lance Armstrong Cory Monteith

Dramatic Plot Diagram • Exposition – Introduces characters and setting • Exciting Force – Temptation; what does the character want/need • Rising Action – Conflict; events leading up to the climax • Climax – ALWAYS IN ACT III

Dramatic Plot Diagram • Falling Action – Events leading down to the catastrophe; tying up loose ends • Moment of Final Suspense – time in which the final outcome of the conflict is in doubt (not always given) • Catastrophe – how the “hero” perishes