This is my presentation on Six parts of Aristotle's Tragedy of Literary Theories and Criticism submitted to Prof. Dr. Dilip Barad MKBU

1. Six Parts of Aristotle’s
Tragedy
Name- Budhiditya Shankar Das
Course- M.A. (English)
Paper No.- 03
Roll No.- 12
Email Id- budhiditya900@gmail.com
Submitted to- Smt.S.B.Gardi
Department of English
M.K.Bhavnagar University

3. Introduction of Aristotle
-> Aristotle was born in 384 B.C
-> The most brilliant student in Plato's
academic was Aristotle.
-> Aristotle was known as “The Father of
Western Criticism”.
-> He was a versatile genius.
-> Aristotle’s contribution the history such
as logic, ethics, political, literary criticism
etc.

4. Aristotle’s Poetics
Aristotle was disciple of Plato but he differs from
Plato in many points. Aristotle says that poetry is an
imitation of an imitation twice removed from reality
but it is not carbon copy of the physical thing. He
says that if the poet gives something less than life, he
also gives something more than life. Aristotle also
says that all fine arts differ from one another in three
ways. They are-
> Difference of means
> Difference of objects
> Difference in manner of imitation

5. Six Parts of Tragedy
Plot
Diction
Character
Thought
Song
Spectacle

6. Plot
-> According to Aristotle,
“ Plot is the Soul of Tragedy”
-> Plot is the ‘first principal’ and most important element
among these six.
-> Aristotle defines, plot is-
“The Harmonious Arrangement
of the Incidents”
-> Plot divide in two part:
Simple Plot
Complex Plot
-> Plot may be simple or complex but complex plot is better
then simple plot.
-> Simple plot have only a “Change Of Fortune”.

7. -> Complex plot have both “Reversal of
intension” and “ Recognition”
-> A plot should have a beginning, a middle
and an end.
-> By plot Aristotle means the arrangement of
incidents.
-> Both connected with the catastrophe.
-> The plot is “ the end at which tragedy
aims.”

8. CHARACTER
-> Character comes in as subsidiary to the action.
First the characters must be life like, they must be
true representatives of actual human nature.
-> Secondly, they must be like the traditional or
historical personages on whom they are modeled
and whose name the bear.
-> The character says or does the demands of
necessity and probability as to satisfy them.
-> In comedy, many characters are important but in
tragedy, the hero is important.

9. -> Aristotle has given four types of hero and the
characteristics:
a) A good man-coming to bad end,
b) A bad man-coming to good end,
c) A bad man-coming to bad end,
d) A rather good man-coming to bad end.
-> He gives the idea about error of judgment. Just
one weakness in the hero's character makes his
downfall. That character's misfortune effects the
entire people staying round about him.
-> Aristotle terms it as “Hamartia”. Later A.C. Bradley
translates it as “Tragic Flaw”.

10. SONG
-> Song is one of these embellishments.
->Aristotle says that the chorus should have
importance like the actor.
->They should integrate into the play like an
actor. It should have contribution to the plot
of the play.
-> Its purpose is also to evoke or intensify the
emotion of the audience.
-> It was a necessary part in Greek drama.

11. DICTION
-> Diction is medium of language and expression.
-> In modern sense it means “ Choice of words”.
-> Diction it doesn't mean that language should be
common, simple and suitable for that character.
-> It is “expression of the meaning in words”
-> Aristotle was particularly interested 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. Metaphors implies an eye for
resemblances".

12. THOUGHT
-> Aristotle says ‘ thought, on the other hand,
is shown in all they say when proving or
disproving some particular point or
enunciating some universal position.
-> “ where something is proved to be or not to
be or a general maxim is enunciated”
-> A play embodies the vision or the idea of
the playwright.
-> They expressed through the character and
their speeches.

13. THE SPECTACLE
-> The spectacle is the pleasure of tragedy.
-> Spectacle is the overall visual appearance of the
stage and the actor.
-> ''the production of spectacular effects depends
more on the art of the stage machinist than on that
of the port.''
-> It is related with the stage performance. But he
also says that those who rely on spectacle create a
sense which is not of the terrible, but only of the
monstrous effect.