Six Parts of Aristotle’s Tragedy Name- Budhiditya Shankar Das

Course- M.A. (English) Paper No.- 03 Roll No.- 12 Email Id- budhiditya900@gmail.com Submitted to- Smt.S.B.Gardi Department of English M.K.Bhavnagar University

Introduction of Aristotle

-> Aristotle was born in 384 B.C-> The most brilliant student in Plato's academic was Aristotle.-> Aristotle was known as “The Father of Western Criticism”. -> He was a versatile genius.-> Aristotle’s contribution the history such as logic, ethics, political, literary criticism etc.

Aristotle’s PoeticsAristotle was disciple of Plato but he differs from Plato in many points. Aristotle says that poetry is an imitation of an imitation twice removed from reality but it is not carbon copy of the physical thing. He says that if the poet gives something less than life, he also gives something more than life. Aristotle also says that all fine arts differ from one another in three ways. They are- > Difference of means > Difference of objects > Difference in manner of imitation

Six Parts of Tragedy

Plot

Diction

Character

Thought

Song

Spectacle

Plot-> According to Aristotle, “ Plot is the Soul of Tragedy”-> Plot is the ‘first principal’ and most important element among these six.-> Aristotle defines, plot is- “The Harmonious Arrangement of the Incidents”-> Plot divide in two part:Simple PlotComplex Plot-> Plot may be simple or complex but complex plot is better then simple plot.-> Simple plot have only a “Change Of Fortune”.

-> Complex plot have both “Reversal of intension” and “ Recognition”-> A plot should have a beginning, a middle and an end.-> By plot Aristotle means the arrangement of incidents.-> Both connected with the catastrophe.-> The plot is “ the end at which tragedy aims.”

CHARACTER -> Character comes in as subsidiary to the action. First the characters must be life like, they must be true representatives of actual human nature.-> Secondly, they must be like the traditional or historical personages on whom they are modeled and whose name the bear. -> The character says or does the demands of necessity and probability as to satisfy them.-> In comedy, many characters are important but in tragedy, the hero is important.

-> Aristotle has given four types of hero and the characteristics:a) A good man-coming to bad end,b) A bad man-coming to good end,c) A bad man-coming to bad end,d) A rather good man-coming to bad end.-> He gives the idea about error of judgment.  Just one weakness in the hero's character makes his downfall.  That character's misfortune effects the entire people staying round about him. -> Aristotle terms it as “Hamartia”. Later A.C. Bradley translates it as “Tragic Flaw”.

SONG-> Song is one of these embellishments.->Aristotle says that the chorus should have importance like the actor.  ->They should integrate into the play like an actor.  It should have contribution to the plot of the play. -> Its purpose is also to evoke or intensify the emotion of the audience. -> It was a necessary part in Greek drama.

DICTION-> Diction is medium of language and expression.-> In modern sense it means “ Choice of words”.-> Diction it doesn't mean that language should be common, simple and suitable for that character.-> It is “expression of the meaning in words”-> Aristotle was particularly interested in metaphors.-> “But the greatest thing by far is to have a command of metaphor'. It is the mark of genius, for to make good. Metaphors implies an eye for resemblances".

THOUGHT-> Aristotle says ‘ thought, on the other hand, is shown in all they say when proving or disproving some particular point or enunciating some universal position.-> “ where something is proved to be or not to be or a general maxim is enunciated”-> A play embodies the vision or the idea of the playwright.-> They expressed through the character and their speeches.

THE SPECTACLE

-> The spectacle is the pleasure of tragedy.-> Spectacle is the overall visual appearance of the stage and the actor.->   ''the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the port.''-> It is related with the stage performance.  But he also says that those who rely on spectacle create a sense which is not of the terrible, but only of the monstrous effect.