Useful elements re. tragedy
While reading Aristotle's Poetics for Media Aesthetics, I came across some pretty handy stuff for writing tragedy! [Which we will all be doing for Eye Contact this semester, right-o? Submissions due Friday, Feb. 13.]
Tragic, indeed:
Imitation of action that is complete, serious, has magnitude
Plot is the soul of tragedy; character secondary
Inspires fear and pity (best when this comes as a surprise)
Reversal of situation, opposite of what we think will happen
Recognition - change from ignorance to knowledge, coincides with reversal
Scene of suffering - destructive/painful action, such as death, injury, bleeding taking place on stage.
Fear and pity result from inner structure of the piece, esp. if you want it to be good
What's terrible or painful? Tragic incident happens between loved ones (Oedipus kills father), not enemies (War? Yawn. Civil war? Exciting.)
4 goals for character: good, propriety, true to life, consistent
Tragedy has two parts: complication and unraveling
Posted by Julie Young at January 17, 2004 11:59 PM