1. Paper:- Literary Theory & Criticism:
Western-1
Topic:- Aristotle’s definition of ‘tragedy’
from ‘The Poetics’
Name:- Nargis I. Saiyad
Roll no.:-14
Class:-M.A.II
Batch:-2012- ‘13

2. # The meaning of ‘tragedy’
# Aristotle’s definition of ‘tragedy’
‘Tragedy, then, is an
imitation of an action that is serious, complete,
and of a certain magnitude; in the language
embellished with each kind of artistic ornament,
the several kinds being found in separate parts of
the play; in the form of action, not of narrative;
through pity and fear effecting the proper
purgation- catharsis of these and similar
emotions.’
(L.J.Potts:24)

3. ‘in the language
‘Tragedy, then is an
embellished with each kind
imitation of an action that
of artistic ornament, the
is serious, complete, and of
several kinds being found in
a certain magnitude;..’
separate parts of the play;’
Tragedy
‘through pity and fear
effecting the proper
‘in the form of action, not
purgation- catharsis of
of narrative;’
these and similar
emotions.’

4.  The word ‘imitation’-
i. the “presence of the universal in a particular”
[Hardison:93]
ii. “creative imagination’’ [Potts:10]
iii. “recreation of life’’ [Fyfe:2]
 The word ‘action’-
i. “a unity of life”, “a unity of happening” [Potts:71]
ii. “the process that takes place between the beginning and
the end of the play.” [Hardison:114]
iii. “a piece of life of serious interest.” [Fyfe:14]

5. Aristotle’s interest 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 metaphor implies an
eye for resemblance.’
The views of other critics- *
i. ‘...carrying to completion, through a course of
events involving pity and fear, the purification of
those painful or fatal acts...” [Argument: 221]
ii. ‘...through pity and fear it archives the
purgation (catharsis) of such emotions’ [Grube:
12]
 ‘Dr. Faustus’ as a tragedy