The document discusses Aristotle's definition of tragedy. It notes that Aristotle was a philosopher who analyzed tragic dramas and his definition of tragedy as "the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language; in a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions" became a guideline for later playwrights. The definition is then broken down and explained further.

1. Aristotle’s definition of tragedy
Name : Solanki Sardarsinh
Roll No : 29
Semester : 1
Year : 2013-14
Paper 3 : Literary Theory & Criticism
Submitted to:
Smt. S.B.Gardi
Department of English
M.K. Bhav. University

2. Aristotle’s Ideas about Tragedy
 Aristotle as a Philosopher
 A Philosopher looks from ideal form and
tries to explain the nature of reality
 His analysis of tragic Dramas
 His analysis of the ideal form of tragic plays
became a guideline for later playwrights in
civilization

3. Aristotle’s definition of tragedy
“A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is
serious and also, as having magnitude,
complete in itself; in appropriate and
pleasurable language ;… in a dramatic rather
than narrative form; with incidents arousing
pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a
catharsis of these emotions.”

4. “the imitation of an action that is
serious and also, as having
magnitude, complete in itself;”
“in appropriate and pleasurable
language;”

5. “In a dramatic rather than
narrative form;”
“with incidents arousing
pity and fear,”

6. “wherewith to accomplish a catharsis
of these emotions.”
Catharsis : “A purifying of the emotions
that is brought about in the
audience of a tragic drama
through the evocation of
intense fear and pity.”