Six parts of Tragedy

1. E-C- 103 : LITERARY CRITICISM
TOPIC: SIX PARTS OF TRAGEDY
PREPARED BY : AVANI N. DAVE
M.A:- 1
SEM – 1
YEAR :- 2012-’13
ROLL NO: 02
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH MKS B.U

2. Aristotle’s 6 Elements of Tragedy
 Aristotle said that tragedy has six main
elements:
Plot
- Fable
Thought -
Spactator Dianoia
- opsis
Tragedy
Character
- Ethos
Melody
- Songs
Diction
- Lexis

3. 1 Plot- Fable
Meaning.
 “Goal is catharsis - gives drama a social function in the polis
 A complex vs. a simple plot is preferred;
this includes peripety and anagnorisis
 Single vs. double -no subplots
 “probability and necessity.”
 Unity
 Beginning, middle, end structure

4. 2 Character – ethos
Meaning:-
 second most important element.
 essential quality revealed in the plot.
 clear moral purpose
 four main qualities.
 good in some way.
 act appropriately
 believable personalities.
 “acting out of character.”

5. Thought – dianoia
Meaning:-
Thought is the power of saying
whatever can be said and should be
said at each moment of the plot.

6. Diction – lexis
Meaning:-
 Diction is the actual composition
 many ways to say
 lines that say something extremely well
 audience can leave the play quoting the lines
exactly.

7. Melody – songs
 Melody is accessories
 The Chorus should contribute to Unity of the
Play
 The Greeks sometimes used musical
accompaniment
“The music (melody) has to blend in
with the play appropriately.” - Aristotle

8. Spectacle
 Music & Spectacle are sensuous, less
artistic elements
 Least important and least connected to Literature
 refers to the staging of the play
 Spectacle are accessories
 Spectacle must be done well for the play to
succeed. - Aristotle
 appropriate to the theme of the play.
o Conclusion

9. . This presentation is submitted to Department of
English M.K.S Bhavnagar University
“All men by nature desire knowledge” – Aristotle
Thank You