The poetics is the first important document in the history of western
criticism. It deals with tragedy, comedy and the epic. But it is chiefly with
tragedy, its nature, function and its constituent part. Aristotle, in poetic,
defines tragedy in the following manner-
‘’Tragedy, then, is
representation of an action that is worth serious attention, complete in
itself, and of some amplitude, in language enriched by a variety of artist
devices appropriate to the several parts of the play;
presented in the form of action, not narration; by means of pity and fear
bringing about the purgation of such emotions-‘’
According to
Aristotle’s definition of tragedy, the requirements of a tragedy are_
1.
Tragedy
imitates serious action, weighty and important action.
2.
Tragedy
is complete in itself
3.
The
action for plot of a tragedy must be long enough to permit an orderly development
of action to a catastrophe. It should be neither too short nor too long.
4.
Tragedy
employs several kinds of embellishments in different parts.
5.
As a
tragedy has to be presented on the stage, it must be dramatic in form, not
narrative.
6.
The
function of tragedy is to arouse the emotions of pity and fear in the audience
to bring about emotions relief.
He enumerates six formative elements of a
tragedy: Plot, Character, Diction, Thought, Spectacle, and Song. As regards the
character of tragedy, Aristotle lays down four essential qualities.
First, the characters must be
good;
Secondly, they must be
appropriate
Thirdly, they must have likeness
Fourthly, they must have
consistency
According to Aristotle, the tragic hero has some frailty or error
judgment, as a result of which he moves from happiness to misery, and
ultimately dies, but he is neither villainous nor exceptionally virtuous.
As regards the dramatic unities, Aristotle
lays down no hard and fast rule. Three principles derived from Aristotle’s
Poetics. These principles were called-
-the unity of action
-the unity of time
-the unity of place
Such are the main feature of Aristotle’s
theory of tragedy. Despite this Aristotle’s theory of Tragedy is the foundation
on which all subsequent discussion of literary aesthetics has most securely based
itself.
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