Aristotle's Poetics: Difference between revisions

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<em>Aristotle's </em><em>Poetics</em>, from his point of view, is his description of what a tragic play consists of and how a poet should go about constructing a great play.  Many times, he refers to <em>Oedipius</em>in relating examples to a great play and form of tragedy.  In attept to understand Aristotle's <em>Poetics</em> I have tried to break it down in laymen's terms.   
<em>Aristotle's </em><em>Poetics</em>, from his point of view, is his description of what a tragic play consists of and how a poet should go about constructing a great play.  Many times, he refers to <em>Oedipius</em>in relating examples to a great play and form of tragedy.  In attept to understand Aristotle's <em>Poetics</em> I have tried to break it down in laymen's terms.   
Aristotle thought that "all men wished to know," and that the human spirit lives most fully in truth (Fergusson  10).  This brings me to what king Oedipus also was looking for - truth.  In this tragic tale the characteristics of a great play unfolds. <!--more-->
Aristotle thought that "all men wished to know," and that the human spirit lives most fully in truth (Fergusson  10).  This brings me to what king Oedipus also was looking for - truth.  In this tragic tale the characteristics of a great play unfolds.


The definition of tragedy is an imitation of action as a whole and is complete with some magnitude.  However, the action Aristotle is referring to is not your regular action movie with blood and gore but three different modes of action:  the <em>praxis</em>, the <em>poiesis</em>, and the <em>theoria</em>, which are Greek for doing, making, and contemplating within real-life instances/situations (Fergusson 10).   
The definition of tragedy is an imitation of action as a whole and is complete with some magnitude.  However, the action Aristotle is referring to is not your regular action movie with blood and gore but three different modes of action:  the <em>praxis</em>, the <em>poiesis</em>, and the <em>theoria</em>, which are Greek for doing, making, and contemplating within real-life instances/situations (Fergusson 10).   
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The tragic hero, again take King Oedipus as example, he is a person in between the extremes and allowed the, <em>hamaritia</em>, error in judgment, in his case the over bearing suspicion and a constant will to action interfere with his better judgment and still highly prosperous and well thought of.  On the other hand his intelligence, adaptability, and self confidence set him between the extremes, and reversed good to bad.  Seneca stated that Oedipus was left as <em>notus </em><em>nimis</em><em>omnibus</em><em>,ignous</em><em>sibi</em>, "too well known to the world, unknown to self "(Fergusson J. 196).
The tragic hero, again take King Oedipus as example, he is a person in between the extremes and allowed the, <em>hamaritia</em>, error in judgment, in his case the over bearing suspicion and a constant will to action interfere with his better judgment and still highly prosperous and well thought of.  On the other hand his intelligence, adaptability, and self confidence set him between the extremes, and reversed good to bad.  Seneca stated that Oedipus was left as <em>notus </em><em>nimis</em><em>omnibus</em><em>,ignous</em><em>sibi</em>, "too well known to the world, unknown to self "(Fergusson J. 196).
Precariously enough the play that ends in an unhappy tone is just what Aristotle thought was a great tragedy.  Therefore, if our own psych suffers in a way that cannot be controlled or understood and our spirit,<em>energia</em>is left unsettled then we could have experienced a tale of tragedy, leaving us shocked, thrilled, and in awe of what just took place.  
Precariously enough the play that ends in an unhappy tone is just what Aristotle thought was a great tragedy.  Therefore, if our own psych suffers in a way that cannot be controlled or understood and our spirit,<em>energia</em>is left unsettled then we could have experienced a tale of tragedy, leaving us shocked, thrilled, and in awe of what just took place.  
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Works Cited
Works Cited
Fergusson, Francis., <em>Aristotle's Poetics. </em>New York:  Hill, 1961.  
Fergusson, Francis., <em>Aristotle's Poetics. </em>New York:  Hill, 1961.  
Fergusson, John., <em>A</em><em>Companion</em><em>to</em><em>Greek </em><em>tragedy</em>.Texas:  University of Texas Press, 1972.
Fergusson, John., <em>A</em><em>Companion</em><em>to</em><em>Greek </em><em>tragedy</em>.Texas:  University of Texas Press, 1972.
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