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“O God! It has all come true. Light,

let this be the last time I see you.”

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

Aristotle’s Rules of Tragedy

• Tragedy: a literary genre of drama

in which the character(s) suffer.

Tragic Hero - character that has a fatal flaw (hamartia).

Qualities of a Tragic Hero • A noble birth/special wisdom bestowed

upon them from birth

• Hamartia

• Recognition

• Reversal

Aristotle’s Rules of Tragedy

Aristotle’s 6 Rules of Tragedy: –Catharsis

–Dramatic Unities

–Hamartia

–Hubris

–Recognition

–Reversal

Aristotle’s Rules of Tragedy

Rule 1: Catharsis • Catharsis: purging of the emotions

“through pity and fear.”

• Tragedies gave the audience catharsis –good for the human soul because it was a release of negative emotions.

Aristotle’s Rules of Tragedy

Rule 2: Dramatic Unities 1. Time: how much time elapses during

the play?

2. Place: where does the action take place?

3. Action: “one hero/one plot” – not too many extraneous incidents/characters

Aristotle’s Rules of Tragedy

Rule 3: Hamartia a “tragic flaw” that leads to a hero’s

tragic downfall.

Aristotle’s Rules of Tragedy

Rule 4: Hubris • exaggerated pride or self-confidence

(before the gods).

• According to Aristotle,“…men think that by ill-treating others they make their own superiority greater.”

Aristotle’s Rules of Tragedy

Rule 5: Recognition • the point at which the tragic hero…

– realizes the catastrophe

– recognizes his/her flaw

– accepts his/her “death” (literal or symbolic)

Aristotle’s Rules of Tragedy

Rule 6: Reversal • occurs when the opposite of what the hero

intended to happen actually happens – irony!

Aristotle’s Rules of Tragedy