AristotleAristotle((384-322 BC)384-322 BC)

Essential Elements of DramaEssential Elements of Drama

His LifeHis Life

Aristotle may have been the last person in the history of the Aristotle may have been the last person in the history of the world to know everything there was to know in his own time!world to know everything there was to know in his own time!

His thinking had a profound impact on philosophical, His thinking had a profound impact on philosophical, theological, and scientific thought.theological, and scientific thought.

All aspects of his philosophy continue to be studied today.All aspects of his philosophy continue to be studied today.

Aristotelian World Aristotelian World Over 150 books, 30 of Over 150 books, 30 of

which still exist more than which still exist more than two thousand years later. two thousand years later.

Topics include biology, Topics include biology, and physics, politics, and physics, politics, morals and aesthetics morals and aesthetics (including rhetoric and (including rhetoric and theatre). theatre).

Later inventions like the Later inventions like the telescope and microscope telescope and microscope would prove many of would prove many of Aristotle’s theories to be Aristotle’s theories to be incorrect, but his ideas incorrect, but his ideas formed the basis of formed the basis of modern science.modern science.

TimelineTimeline-Son of court -Son of court

physicianphysician-Studied under Plato -Studied under Plato

at his Academy. at his Academy. (367–347 B.C.)(367–347 B.C.)

He later tutored He later tutored Alexander the Alexander the Great, eventually Great, eventually returning to returning to AthensAthens

After Alexander The Great conquered Athens, Aristotle returned there and set up his own school, The Lyceum. Some distinguished members of Plato’s Academy followed him.

When Alexander the Great died, Athens revolted against Macedonian rule and Aristotle had to flee.

Places in Aristotle’s Life

The PoeticsThe Poetics The earliest critical The earliest critical

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

Aristotle’s Guide to Pleasure Aristotle’s Guide to Pleasure in Viewing a Playin Viewing a Play

The Qualities of The Qualities of TragedyTragedy

1.1. High ActionHigh Action2.2. CharacterCharacter3.3. Emotion (pity Emotion (pity

and fear)and fear)

According to Aristotle…According to Aristotle…

Tragedies produceTragedies producePITY and FEARPITY and FEARin the viewer.in the viewer.

PityPitybecause the misfortune experience by because the misfortune experience by the main character is undeserved;the main character is undeserved;

FEARFEARbecause the audience realizes that what because the audience realizes that what happens to this character could happen to happens to this character could happen to them.them.Experiencing and being cleansed of these Experiencing and being cleansed of these emotions allowed Greeks to become better emotions allowed Greeks to become better

citizens.citizens.

Six Aristotelian Elements of a PlaySix Aristotelian Elements of a Play

Action (Story) Action (Story) CharacterCharacter Theme (Idea)Theme (Idea) Diction Diction

(Language)(Language) Spectacle/Mise Spectacle/Mise

en sceneen scene SongSong

Action/StoryAction/Story ““The arrangement The arrangement

of the incidents” of the incidents” through which the through which the story and its story and its implications are implications are communicated. communicated.

Must have Must have probability, unity, probability, unity, and complexityand complexity

CharacterCharacterCharacter is defined by Character is defined by

what the character says what the character says and does. and does.

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

Theme (Idea)Theme (Idea)

What does the play mean?What does the play mean?

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

Diction (Language)Diction (Language) Language can reveal theme (idea) and characterLanguage can reveal theme (idea) and character It was elevated to express elevated meanings It was elevated to express elevated meanings

(not “everyday” language)(not “everyday” language) Sensuous effect on the listener (or sense of Sensuous effect on the listener (or sense of

authenticity in modern times)authenticity in modern times)

Spectacle and MusicSpectacle and MusicSpectacle is the visual Spectacle is the visual

effects we see as an effects we see as an audience—The Actors audience—The Actors and the Staging. and the Staging. (Nowadays it includes (Nowadays it includes the special effects.) the special effects.)

Music enhances the Music enhances the emotional response, emotional response, creates the mood (the creates the mood (the plays were songs to plays were songs to the god)the god)

These two can enhance These two can enhance and clarify, and clarify, but should but should not produce the not produce the emotionemotion..

(No manipulation!)(No manipulation!)