1) Aristotle defines tragedy as the imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude, which provokes emotions of pity and fear and accomplishes a catharsis or purification of such emotions. 2) Tragedy has six elements - plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle. The most important is plot, which must be complex and have unity, a beginning, middle and end, and follow the law of probability or necessity. 3) Character is also important and should support the plot. The protagonist brings about their own downfall not through vice but through an error or frailty known as hamartia.