Aristotle

(384-322 BC)
Essential Elements of Drama

His Life

Aristotle may have been the last person in the history of the world to know everything there was to know in his own time! His thinking had a profound impact on philosophical, theological, and scientific thought. All aspects of his philosophy continue to be studied today.

Aristotelian World

Over 150 books, 30 of which still exist more than two thousand years later. Topics include biology, and physics, politics, morals and aesthetics (including rhetoric and theatre). Later inventions like the telescope and microscope would prove many of Aristotles theories to be incorrect, but his ideas formed the basis of modern science.

Timeline
-Son of court physician -Studied under Plato at his Academy. (367 347 B.C.) He later tutored Alexander the Great, eventually returning to Athens

After Alexander The Great conquered Athens, Aristotle returned there and set up his own school, The Lyceum. Some distinguished members of Platos Academy followed him. When Alexander the Great died, Athens revolted against Macedonian rule and Aristotle had to flee.

Places in Aristotles Life

The Poetics
The earliest critical treatise dealing with dramatic practice and theory. Besides being a summation of the first great age of dramatic activity, it has exercised incalculable influence over the dramatists of all European and other nations.

Aristotles Guide to Pleasure in Viewing a Play

The Qualities of Tragedy

1.

2.
3.

High Action Character Emotion (pity and fear)

According to Aristotle
Tragedies produce PITY and FEAR in the viewer.
Pity because the misfortune experience by the main character is undeserved; FEAR because the audience realizes that what happens to this character could happen to them. Experiencing and being cleansed of these emotions allowed Greeks to become better citizens.

Six Aristotelian Elements of a Play

Action (Story) Character Theme (Idea) Diction (Language) Spectacle/Mise en scene Song

Action/Story

The arrangement of the incidents through which the story and its implications are communicated. Must have probability, unity, and complexity

Character
Character is defined by what the character says and does.

Characters should be noble in character as well as status (a man of reputation who comes to grief through an error, not vice.)

Theme (Idea)

What does the play mean?

What is the lesson? (It should cover social morality)

Diction (Language)

Language can reveal theme (idea) and character It was elevated to express elevated meanings (not everyday language) Sensuous effect on the listener (or sense of authenticity in modern times)

Spectacle and Music

Spectacle is the visual effects we see as an audienceThe Actors and the Staging. (Nowadays it includes the special effects.) Music enhances the emotional response, creates the mood (the plays were songs to the god) These two can enhance and clarify, but should not produce the emotion. (No manipulation!)