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The Plot of Greek Tragedy
Quote of the Day:
"It is not for the purpose of presenting their
characters that the agents engage in action, but rather it is for the sake
of their actions that they take on the characters they have. Thus,
what happens--that is, the plot--is the end for which a tragedy exists, and
the end or purpose is the most important thing of all" (Aristotle,
Poetics).
Reading Assignment:
-
Aristotle, Poetics, trans. J.H. Butcher, from The
Literature Project
-
Aristotle,
Poetics, trans. J.H. Butcher, from Liberty Online
-
Aristotle, Poetics,
trans. J.H. Butcher, from The Internet Classics Archive
- Use any of these sites; each has the same translation.
Read chapters 6, 7, 9, 10, and 13.
- Sophocles, Antigone (read it again)
Writing Assignment:
- In his Poetics, Aristotle states that in a well-constructed
tragedy, one character's "error," or mistake, (hamartia) leads to a "reversal"
(peripeteia) (chap. 13). In an
essay of about 1-2 pages, apply this concept to Antigone: identify
which character made the mistake, what the mistake was, and
where in the play the reversal occurs.
- “Error” and
“mistake” are not synonyms for “flaw.” I am not asking
you to tell me about any character’s “tragic flaw."
- "Reversal" here does not mean "to change one's mind." Aristotle
is talking about a "reversal of fortune."
Extra Feature:
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