OutlineCT

 I.Character in Greek Tragedy ….. A. It supports plot ........... 1. Change of fortune can be made tragic if character is prosperous/renowned ………. 2. Also supports plot since character's motivations are connected to the cause and effect chains. ..................... a. The character`s motivations are based on the law of probability and necessity therefore of the. principle of determinism (everything has a purpose). .......... 3. Character just as plot should follow the “flow” of change in the Universe (law of inertia) through . mimesis. ......... 4. Change comes from character’s flaw/error -(hamartia) ..................... a. Character will bring himself to downfall by mistake due to his flaw. ..................... b. Consequences from this are inevitable ………. 5. Peripeteia-self destructive actions taken in blindness opposed to what was intended (tragic irony) ……….……… a. It is based on law of “probability (it is probable if it has happened before) and necessity (required for cause and effect chain and purpose)” . .......................,,,... i. Peripeteia is based on it as the action must be probable and necessary for the purpose and for the cause/effect chain ..................... b. Unfortunate situation is generated by peripeteia, not evilness ........................,,,.. i. Oedipus causes his own downfall (not because of evilness) because of hubris, he was not humble as he should have been. ..................... c. Therefore creates pity and fear in audience ………. 5. Anagnorisis- character gains knowledge lacking previously after making a mistake ….. B. Character’s qualities ………. 1. Good or fine ……….………. a. In terms of moral purpose. ……….………. b. Relative to class/gender ............................. i. Woman and slaves can be good but women are "inferior beings", and slaves are. worthless ………. 2. Fitness of character ……….………. a. True to type of class/gender ............................. i. Valor is appropriate for a warrior but not for a woman. ………. 3. True to life ……….………. a. Realistic because he has a flaw (hamartia), which all humans have. ………. 4. Consistent ……….………. a. Personality and motivations that are once set should be conserved (they should remain unchanged from before)  ………. 5. Necessary/probable ……….………. a. Actions/plot must be constructed based on “law of probability or necessity”. ............................. i. character must be also constructed based on law of probability or necessity. ………. 6. Realistic but idealized ……….………. a. Character i s realistic because he has flaws (harmatia) as any other human does. ……….………. b. Character is idealized by being described as someone a "little better than the majority".  II. Thought in Greek tragedy ….. A. Established a maxim or what is probable and pertinent in certain situations and is found where something . is proved to be or not to be ………. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">1. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;"> Effects caused by speech: ……….………. a. Proof and refutation(something is proved to be or not to be-of thought) ……….………. b. Excitation of feelings ……….………. c. Suggestion of importance (of the maxim) or the opposite ….. B. It would include the themes of the tragedy

Works Cited <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 200%;">Aristotle. "Poetics." //The Internet Classics Archive: 441 searchable works of classical literature//. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">McManus, Barbara F. "Outline of Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy." //New York College | Catholic College | The College of New Rochelle//. Nov. 1999. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://www2.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics.html>.