| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Aristotelian Tragedy | uses serious and artistic language, and is written to replicate serious action that is of a certain degree of enormity. Tragedies are written in such a style that focuses on action, not narrative; it is written in the hopes of creating pity and fear and then, ultimately, it hopes to create a katharsis. |
| Hamartia | This term is often translated to mean "tragic flaw" (although the direct translation is closer to mistake, rather than flaw). This does not occur based on immorals or weakness on the part of the protagonist; rather, it comes about because the protagonist is lacking in knowledge. This miscalculation is one that is common to all humans, not just the character in the tragedy. It has nothing to do with the morals of the character or whether he or she is evil; it is simply a mistake. |
| Peripiteai | This occurs in "complex plots" and is the "reversal of intention". This situation occurs by surprise, and transpires when a character performs an action which results in an effect that is opposite to what was originally intended. The greatest plots in tragedy occur when this leads to anagnorisis, which ultimately results in catastrophe. |
| Anagnorsis | It is the change from ignorance to understanding by one character, which ultimately changes feelings of hate to those of love (or vice versa) to the characters that are fated towards good or ill fortune. Occuring in "complex plots", this also emerges by surprise |
| Katharsis | occurs at the end of the tragedy and is the cleansing of the viewer's emotions (primarily pity and fear). It is meant to bring emotions to a healthy, balanced proportion; it should leave the viewers feeling purged of ill feelings, but also drained. It also has to do with the feelings of pleasure the viewer gets from reflecting over the feelings of pity and fear he or she gets while viewing the convoluted, yet organized, work of art that is tragedy. |
| Catastrophe | The change of fortune of a character. It leads to the final "scene of suffering". |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace
!