ROS - Tragedy Lesson

Tragedy

A Roman coin, made of gold, depicting Marcus Brutus.Julius Caesar seized power in 44 BCE. He was also assassinated on the Ides of March the same year. Scholars have often noted that having Caesar die in Act Three seems odd for the title role. In fact, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is really the tragic story of Marcus Brutus. To understand this completely, you have to understand the genre of dramatic tragedy. It should not be surprising that Aristotle first analyzed and categorized the nature of tragedy. The following passages are excerpts from Aristotle's treatise, Poetics, wherein he tries to delineate the nature of a successful tragedy. As you read this translation see if you can identify when he is addressing the following (mostly) Greek terms:

A man holds his head in his hands, perhaps in agony or deep thought. His fingers are curled around his skull.

  • Anagnorisis: A moment in a play or other work when a character makes a critical discovery or recognizes their fault.
  • Catharsis: A sudden emotional breakdown or climax that constitutes overwhelming feelings of great pity, sorrow, laughter, or any extreme change in emotion that results in renewal, restoration, and revitalization
  • Deus ex machina: This Latin term means "God in the machine," a failure of the plot when an unexplained development solves a problem
  • Hamartia: A character flaw that leads to tragic consequences
  • Hubris: Exaggerated pride or self-confidence, often resulting in retribution or downfall.
  • Mimesis: Resembling real-life
  • Peripeteia: A reversal of circumstances, or turning point.

Reading Assignment: Poetics by Aristotle

Click here to download a translation of Aristotle's "Poetics." Links to an external site. Read it thoroughly. 

The cover of a classic edition of Aristotle's Poetics.

Reading Assignment: "Aristotle on Greek Tragedy" by Dr. Larry A. Brown

Now that you have read a translation of the primary source, here is an excellent synopsis on Greek theatre and Aristotle's notion of tragedy. Click here to download "Aristotle on Greek Tragedy" by Dr. Larry A. Brown. Links to an external site.

Reading Assignment: "Antigone" by Sophocles

Click here to download "Antigone" by Sophocles. Links to an external site. Now to put theory to practice: Antigone is the daughter of the tragic king of Thebes, Oedipus. Her uncle, Creon, is now king. Her brothers have just fought a civil war in which they killed each other. Read this text closely keeping in mind Aristotle's theory of tragedy. 

In this oil painting by Marcel Baschet (1883), Oedipus (with Ismene and Antigone) condemns Polyneikes.

Enrichment: Riddling of the Sphinx

sphinx.png

You may have noticed that Aristotle often cites Oedipus as an archetypal tragic figure. Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, offers a disturbing spectacle of a man who does not know himself. The circumstances of his ignorance are worth knowing because they have permeated Western literature for nearly 2500 years. Click here to read a translation of Oedipus Rex. Links to an external site.

 

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