Aristotle was a Greek philosopher born in 384 BCE in Stagirus. He became a student of Plato at age 18 and developed his own philosophies after Plato's death. Aristotle defined tragedy as an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of magnitude, told through embellished language and action rather than narration, with incidents that arouse pity and fear and accomplish a catharsis of such emotions.

2. Aristotle was a great philosopher and
Scientist of Greek.
 He was born in the Macedonian city
of Stagirus in 384 BCE.
 Became Plato’s student at 18 years
old.
 subject to Plato's philosophies.
Developed his own Philosophies after
Plato's death.
 Died in Euboea in 322 BCE.

3. About Plato
Plato was a master
of Aristotle and also
great Philosopher like
Aristotle.
 He was first
systemic critic.

4.  “Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is
serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude;
in language embellished with each kind of
artistic ornament. . . in the form of action, not
of narrative; with incidents arousing pity and
fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of
such emotions.”
- Aristotle
Aristotle’s Definition of
Tragedy

5.  In keeping with his taxonomy of the arts,
Aristotle groups the six part of tragedy
according to the medium, object and manner of
imagination.
Medium
 Verbal
Expression
 Song
Compotation
Object
 Plot
 Character
 Thought
Manner
 Staging
Six part of Tragedy

6.  The stuff of tragedy must be serious – must be
something monumental such as the assassination
of a President which significantly alters all our
lives; it must have profound consequences
involving people whose fate affects many beyond
themselves; it is a public event rather than a
private event.
Tragedy must be about a
Serious Subject

7. Must excite pity and fear – one who is
neither evil nor extremely virtuous;
misfortune for the Tragic Figure is brought
about not by vice or depravity, but by some
error or frailty – his Tragic Flaw.
Be of High Stature
Be extraordinary, not typical
Tragedy must have a Tragic Figure

8. Tragedy must have an
Effective Plot
 Complete & Complex with a beginning,
middle, & end
 Events must lead naturally to what follows
and point toward the end
 End must follow naturally from what has
gone before and conclude the action
 Complex – moves in various directions by
means of reversal and recognition

9. Tragedy must take “the form of
action, not of narrative”
Aristotle believes the lines should be
acted, not simply read or told.
Audience must see the drama
unfold before them.

10.  Tragedy makes the audience fear that such
events could happen to them.
 Tragedy makes the audience feel pity for the
Tragic Figure.
 Audience feels pity in part because the Tragic
Figure accepts his/her fate.
Tragedy must “Evoke Pity & Fear”