Plot UnityPlot Unity: a unified plot is constructed : a unified plot is constructed around a single action and must present it around a single action and must present it as a unified wholeas a unified whole

Not dependent merely on Not dependent merely on plot being about one plot being about one man/personman/personEach incident must be Each incident must be organicorganic/critical to the plot /critical to the plot itselfitselfWhat is unsatisfying about What is unsatisfying about incidents that are not critical incidents that are not critical to a plot? Can you think of an to a plot? Can you think of an example?example?

Poetic TruthPoetic Truth

Reflects the kind of things that could Reflects the kind of things that could happen (rather than what actually happen (rather than what actually happened)happened)

Must conform to what is probable or Must conform to what is probable or necessarynecessary

Means that poetry is of more value and Means that poetry is of more value and more worthy of serious attention more worthy of serious attention than historythan history

Why?Why?

What makes poetry more worthy What makes poetry more worthy than history? than history?

Its universality.Its universality.

Is there really such a thing? Is Is there really such a thing? Is anything universally true?anything universally true?

Historical TruthHistorical Truth

Bound by particular factsBound by particular facts Does not necessarily reflect universal Does not necessarily reflect universal

truthtruth

Types of Plots: EpisodicTypes of Plots: Episodic

Sequence of events is neither Sequence of events is neither probable nor necessary; loses probable nor necessary; loses credibilitycredibility

These plots do not stir pity and fear These plots do not stir pity and fear because they seem to happen by because they seem to happen by either by chance or to be merely either by chance or to be merely mechanical.mechanical.

Types of Plots: SimpleTypes of Plots: Simple

Single and continuousSingle and continuous Change of fortune comes without Change of fortune comes without

reversal or discoveryreversal or discovery

Types of Plots: ComplexTypes of Plots: Complex

Change in fortune comes because of Change in fortune comes because of reversal or discovery or bothreversal or discovery or both

Must develop out of the structure of Must develop out of the structure of the plot, be inevitable and probablethe plot, be inevitable and probable

ReversalReversal

A change in affairs from one state to A change in affairs from one state to its opposite (generally from good to its opposite (generally from good to bad)bad)

Conforms to probability or necessityConforms to probability or necessity

DiscoveryDiscovery

Change from ignorance to knowledgeChange from ignorance to knowledge Leads to love or hatredLeads to love or hatred May lead to good fortune or bad May lead to good fortune or bad

fortunefortune May accompany a reversal (e.g. the May accompany a reversal (e.g. the

Messenger in Messenger in OedipusOedipus)) *The most effective ones develop pity *The most effective ones develop pity

and fear in the audience, hence the and fear in the audience, hence the tragic effect.tragic effect.

CalamityCalamity

An action of a destructive or painful An action of a destructive or painful naturenature

E.g. death openly represented, E.g. death openly represented, excessive suffering, etc.excessive suffering, etc.