Aristotle, in his work "Poetics," defines tragedy as an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude, in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play, in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions.
According to Aristotle, tragedy is a form of art that aims to evoke emotions of pity and fear in the audience, leading to a catharsis or purgation of these emotions. Tragedy is characterized by its serious tone, complete structure, and magnitude, as it deals with important and significant events in the lives of its characters. The language used in tragedy is also important, as it is embellished with artistic ornaments that enhance the emotional impact of the play.
The constituent elements of tragedy, as outlined by Aristotle, include plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle. The plot is the most important element of tragedy, as it is the arrangement of events that make up the story. The plot should have a beginning, middle, and end, and should follow a logical and causal sequence of events. The characters in a tragedy should be well-developed and exhibit traits such as nobility, goodness, and tragic flaws that lead to their downfall. Thought refers to the themes and ideas explored in the play, while diction refers to the language and style of the dialogue. Melody and spectacle refer to the music and visual elements of the performance, which should enhance the emotional impact of the play.
Tragedy is differentiated from comedy and epic poetry in several ways. Comedy, according to Aristotle, is an imitation of characters of a lower type, not, however, in the full sense of the word bad, the ludicrous being merely a subdivision of the ugly. Comedy aims to evoke laughter and amusement in the audience, often through the use of satire and humor. Comedy typically features characters of a lower social status and deals with everyday events and situations, rather than the grand and serious events of tragedy.
Epic poetry, on the other hand, is a narrative form of poetry that tells the story of a hero and his adventures. Epic poetry often features larger-than-life characters and events, such as wars, quests, and supernatural beings. Epic poetry is characterized by its grand scale, heroic themes, and elevated language. While tragedy and epic poetry both deal with serious and significant events, tragedy focuses on the downfall of a noble character, while epic poetry celebrates the achievements and triumphs of a hero.
In conclusion, Aristotle's definition of tragedy in his "Poetics" emphasizes the importance of plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle in creating a work of art that evokes emotions of pity and fear in the audience. Tragedy is distinguished from comedy and epic poetry by its serious tone, complete structure, and focus on the downfall of a noble character. Tragedy aims to elicit a catharsis or purgation of emotions in the audience, while comedy aims to evoke laughter and amusement, and epic poetry celebrates the heroic achievements of a protagonist.