Aristotelian Tragedy
by Dominic Kuang
Aristotelian Tragedy

The character must be good but imperfect, and act appropriately for
their class
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The character must fall down from a high position to a low one due to
a singular flaw, perhaps a hubris
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There must be only one reason that this character falls, and all plot
events relate to this

After the catastrophe, the hero may reach a realization - an
anagnorisis - that the events were caused due to his actions

The tragedy should arouse pity and fear in the audience, and they
should feel ‘purged’ of this at the end of the play, a physiological
effect called catharsis

Stage
Audience
Thought, diction, melody, and spectacle are also important aspects to
a tragedy
Note: for the full notes,
see the section under
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Works Cited

"Aristotle’s Ideas About Tragedy." Http://cuip.uchicago.edu. University of
Chicago, 26 Aug. 2001. Web. 14 Sept. 2012.
<http://cuip.uchicago.edu/~ldernbach/msw/xhgkaristrag.pdf>.

Browning, Valerie. "ARISTOTLE & THE ELEMENTS OF TRAGEDY." ARISTOTLE
& THE ELEMENTS OF TRAGEDY. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2012.
<http://glacierpeak.sno.wednet.edu/teachers/vbrowning/AP_Lit/Antigone/
tragedy.doc>.

McManus, Barbara F. "Outline of Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy." Outline of
Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy. N.p., Nov. 1999. Web. 14 Sept. 2012.
<http://www2.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics.html>.