Aristotle

Collected lecture/discussion notes. Some parts are very fragmented, but offered here as a study aid, not a primary learning source. Citations are lost. None of the thoughts are original.

Writing in The Poetics:

Tragedy as

• "imitaton of an action",
• incidents arousing pity and fear
• having beginning, middle, end

Imitation of an action:

• one action
• a complete whole
• "transposal or withdrawal of any [incident] will disjoin and dislocate the whole."

Unities:

• Time
• Place
• Action

Parts

• Plot
• Character
• Thought
• Diction
• Melody
• Spectacle

Story is begun "In medias res"
Reversal of fortunes in hero (protagonist)
Story is constructed around conflicting forces

Purpose: Entertain and stimulate

• New insights and perceptions
• Advocate action
• Increase awareness of others and surroundings

Conventions
Catharsis
Tragic flaw
Beginning, middle, end

Imitation is a product of the imagination, and is consciously made or crafted; therefore purpsoeful and meaningful. It is not just a copy but also a comment.

Dramatic action is to the story as the soul is to the body: Eleements of conflict and idea make up dramatic action. It is not plot.

Aristotelian analysis:

1. Plot: "overall structure of the play"
   1. Beginning: establishes situation, characters, mood, theme, internal logic
      • -Exposition
      • -Point of attack: point in sequence of events at which play begins. (in medias res)
      • -Inciting incident - sets main action in motion
      • -Establishes major dramatic question
   2. Middle: series of complications
      • -Complication: any new element altering direction of action
      • -Discovery: frequent source of complications.
      • -Complication event not so important as effect upon character.
      • -Crisis: turning point of action, preparing for resolution.
   3. End: Composed of resolution or denouement: crisis to final curtain.
      • -Frequently involves obligatory scene: confrontation of all elements in conflict.
2. Character 4 levels of characterization:
   1. Physical (physical aspects)
   2. Social (social relationships)
   3. Psychological (habitual responses)
   4. Moral (ethical choices)
   Playwright uses all of the above. Character revealed through:
   1. Direct: description in stage directions, prefaces, etc.
   2. What character says
   3. What character does
   4. What other characters say about her.
   Characters defined:
   1. Typified
   2. Individualized.
3. Thought
   • -Includes themes, arguments, meaning, focus, significance of the action.
   • -Present in all plays as a unifying factor.
   • -Themes normally implied rather than stated, although plays attempting to persuade a viewpoint frequently state themes.
   • -Metaphor, symbol, allegory used extensively to imply ideas.
4. Diction Purposes:
   1. Impart information
   2. Characterize
   3. Direct attention to the plot elements
   4. Reveal themes and ideas
   5. Establish tone and internal logic.
   6. Establish temp and rhythim
   • -Basic criterion: appropriateness to characters, situation, internal logic, type of play.
5. Music (melody) - May include all sound in a play. Functions of music:
   1. Establish or enhance mood and create expectations
   2. Establish internal logic
   3. Characterize
   4. Medium for ideas
   5. Condense
   6. Lends variety
   7. Pleasurable
6. 6. Spectacle: The total physiological experience. All visual elements, mostly. Functions:
   1. Gives information
   2. Aids characterization
   3. Establishes internal logic
   • -"appropriate, expressive, distinctive, practicable."

Suspense

-What hold audience - what brings them into theatre and holds attention throughout? Suspense, suspense of experience.

Suspense: the withholding of fulfillment of anticipation [Webster: uncertain, undecided, doubtful]

Auditor has formed a prediction of possible sequences and outcomes, which become his anticipation. The withholding of the fulfillment of those anticipations becomes suspense.

1. Suspense of plot: what happens next, who did it, etc.
2. Suspense of character:
   1. Character's true nature (is he really good or bad)
   2. Character's self discovery (can he find out who he is)
   3. Character's reversal of personality (can he mend his ways)
3. Suspense of idea: what is being said, where is it going, what is the point. Other possible suspense:
   • -What about person who knows story?
   • -Suspense of style and means (how will he handle it)
   • -What about person who's seen it before?
   • Suspense of experience (will it be as beautiful or fun a moment as it was before). Suspense of idea frequently involved here.