Key Concepts

Argument Explanation
Definition of Tragedy Aristotle defines tragedy as "the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language; in a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of such emotions."
The Six Elements of Tragedy According to Aristotle, the six elements of tragedy are plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle. He considers plot to be the most important of these elements.
The Perfect Plot Aristotle outlines the characteristics of the perfect tragic plot, which should have a beginning, middle, and end; be of an appropriate length; and have a single, unified action with a reversal of situation and recognition scene.
Character Aristotle emphasizes the importance of character in tragedy, stating that characters should be good, appropriate, true to life, and consistent. The tragic hero should be a person of high stature who experiences a reversal of fortune due to a tragic flaw or error in judgment.
Thought and Diction Thought refers to the ability of the characters to reason and argue effectively, while diction refers to the quality and style of the language used in the play.
Catharsis Aristotle argues that tragedy should arouse feelings of pity and fear in the audience, leading to a catharsis or purging of these emotions. This emotional release is considered essential for the aesthetic experience of tragedy.

Quotes

Quote Book and Chapter
"Tragedy, then, is 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." Book VI, Chapter 2
"A perfect tragedy should, as we have seen, be arranged not on the simple but on the complex plan. It should, moreover, imitate actions which excite pity and fear, this being the distinctive mark of tragic imitation." Book XIII
"The historian and the poet differ not in writing in verse or in prose. The work of Herodotus might be put into verse, and it would still be a species of history, with meter no less than without it. The true difference is that one relates what has happened, the other what may happen." Book IX
"As in the other points we have mentioned, so in the episodes, the poet should always aim either at the necessary or the probable. Hence it is evident that the unraveling of the plot, no less than the complication, must arise out of the plot itself, it must not be brought about by the Deus ex Machina." Book XV
"The greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor. It is the one thing that cannot be learned from others; and it is also a sign of genius, since a good metaphor implies an intuitive perception of the similarity in dissimilars." Book XXI

Contents

Chapter Summary
Chapter 1 Introduction to the study of poetry: Aristotle establishes the general purpose of the work, defining poetry and its various forms.
Chapter 2 Definition of art: The distinction between different kinds of poetry and the principles of imitation.
Chapter 3 Division of the various arts: Aristotle differentiates the arts by the modes of their imitation.
Chapter 4 The origins of poetry: Discusses how poetry originated and developed.
Chapter 5 Different kinds of poetry: Examines epic, comedy, and tragedy and their essential characteristics.
Chapter 6 Definition of tragedy: Provides a detailed definition of tragedy, lists its six elements, and explains their importance.
Chapter 7 The structure of tragic plot: Discusses the components that make a tragic plot unified and effective.
Chapter 8 Unity of the plot: The importance of unity and how subplots can be integrated into the main plot.
Chapter 9 The concept of episodic plots: Criticizes plots that lack unity and coherence.
Chapter 10 The quantitative parts of tragedy: Lists the divisional parts of a drama like prologue, episode, exode, and choral portions.
Chapter 11 Definition of the elements of plot: Explanation of reversal, recognition, and suffering within the plot.
Chapter 12 The importance of complex plots: Detailed discussion on plots that incorporate reversals and recognitions.
Chapter 13 What makes a tragedy effective: Explores how to create fear and pity through plot construction.
Chapter 14 The role of character in tragedy: Discusses the characteristics required in tragic characters.
Chapter 15 The role of thought and diction in tragedy: Explains the importance of speech and reasoning in the play.
Chapter 16 The nature of recognition: Various kinds of recognition scenes, and their significance in tragedy.
Chapter 17 The construction of dramatic characters: Guidelines for creating and developing characters in a tragedy.
Chapter 18 Further elements of tragedy: Examines more aspects, like the use of chorus and musical elements.
Chapter 19 Discussion on tragic flaws: The role of imperfection and error in a tragic hero.
Chapter 20 Description of diction: Analyzes the parts of speech, the role of metaphor, and word choice in poetry.
Chapter 21 Further observations on diction: More insights into poetic diction and its intricacies.
Chapter 22 Detailed analysis of metaphors: Aristotle delves deeply into the use and types of metaphors in poetic language.
Chapter 23 Investigates epic poetry: Exploring the similarities and differences between epic and tragedy.
Chapter 24 Structure of epic poetry: Discusses the unique structural elements of epic poetry.
Chapter 25 Comparative study of epic and tragedy: Comparing the methods, aims, and means of the two poetic forms.
Chapter 26 The superiority of tragedy: Aristotle argues why tragedy is considered higher than epic poetry.